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Adriana Ortega-Zeifert raised £3,056 from 90 supporters

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Closed 18/01/2020

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£3,056
raised of £10,000 target by 90 supporters

    Iʼve raised £3,056 to Support Adriana & her Children Remain in the UK. Solidarity with Survivors of Domestic Abuse!

    Manchester
    Funded on Saturday, 18th January 2020

    Don't have time to donate right now?

    Story

    My name is Adriana Ortega-Zeifert and I am raising funds to pay for my family’s leave to remain application and legal costs so that my children and I won’t be deported from the UK.

    My story

    I came to the UK as an international student from Mexico in April 2010 to pursue a PhD at the University of Manchester. I was awarded a scholarship to pursue my innovative research. My supervisor, Professor Peter Gardner, has stated that I’m:

    “doing some really cutting edge research in the field of prostate cancer diagnosis. […] Her work on cancer associated fibroblasts is ground breaking and is just waiting to be finished off before publication.”

    However, I was forced to take an interruption from my PhD studies as a result of mental health issues brought on by years of sexual, emotional and financial abuse as well as alienation of my children at the hands of my ex-partner & father of my children.

    Because of severe depression and PTSD caused by the abuse I experienced and the side effects of an antidepressant that I was taking at the time, I accidentally failed to complete sending documents for a second extension to my visa application to the Home Office. As a result, the University of Manchester withdrew me from my PhD studies.

    Compounding matters, I have been instructed by the family court that my three daughters who have lived the majority of their lives in Manchester must return to Mexico to visit my ex-partner & father of my children who abused me.

    As a result of the hostile environment policy, if my children are forced to visit their father, they might never be able to return to the UK for 10 years or more. My children are adamant that they do not want to return to Mexico and want to remain in Manchester. Family courts ruled that if my daughters fail to return to Mexico then I will be imprisoned in the UK.

    It is both outrageous and disappointing that I could face imprisonment just because my children refused to board a plane to visit their father because they are scared to be forced to live with him. Family court is essentially forcing my daughters to return to Mexico and not granting them the right to apply for further leave to remain, which they are entitled to as they are approaching the 10 years mark of living in the UK.

    Why my daughters & I matter

    My three daughters are exceptional and academically gifted students who have given so much to the Manchester community. If we are forced to return to Mexico, there is no way that we would be allowed to re-enter the UK for many years to come.

    I have received tremendous support from the Manchester community with over 2,000 individuals having signed my Change.org petition demanding that the Home Office grant us leave to remain status in the UK. Additionally, a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State, the Leader of the Labour Party, the Shadow Secretary of State and the University of Manchester Vice Chancellor has garnered over 100 signatures from academics and UCU members .

    I am now awaiting a hearing on 2nd October 2019, which could lead to our deportation. I want to be able to resume my cutting edge research at the University of Manchester, but I’m being stifled by bureaucratic laws in addition to the hostile environment policy that creates real barriers for migrant women survivors of domestic violence to gain justice.

    I would be grateful if you can spare any money to help keep me and my children together in the UK and to stop us from being deported back to Mexico.

    Updates

    2

    • Adriana  Ortega-Zeifert5 years ago
      Adriana  Ortega-Zeifert

      Adriana Ortega-Zeifert

      5 years ago

      My story has been covered in The Independent. Read the piece here: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/phd-student-cancer-research-prostate-jail-visa-application-uk-a9127936.html?fbclid=IwAR0HITXJJWIlvIxW7RaZbJ-BLaOjcOhmfN9IGII6SeyMHuhLiHDiFyZeG4k

      Update from the Page owner

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    • Adriana  Ortega-Zeifert5 years ago
      Adriana  Ortega-Zeifert

      Adriana Ortega-Zeifert

      5 years ago

      Thank you to all my supporters who have raised over £2,000 in my fight to keep my family together in the UK. The kind words that you have left on my fundraiser has uplifted me during bleak times and given me the strength to continue on. It's been a very hectic few weeks for me legally and otherwise. I cannot go into details. Unfortunately, the way things are looking, my case to keep my family together & to remain in the UK will be a long one. Please help me reach my target goal so I can get the legal support to help me win this fight!

      Update from the Page owner

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    5 years ago

    Adriana Ortega-Zeifert started crowdfunding

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    Page last updated on: 11/21/2019 11.15

    Supporters

    90

    • Tom Kenny

      Tom Kenny

      Nov 21, 2019

      Supporting your right to stay in the UK - my cousin's children are friends with your daughter.

      £20.00

    • Anonymous

      Anonymous

      Nov 4, 2019

      Support on behalf of UMUCU

    • Anonymous

      Anonymous

      Oct 17, 2019

      This amount was donated by two donors via the gofundme account.

    • Anonymous

      Anonymous

      Oct 16, 2019

      Much love Adriana xx

      £50.00

    • Sybina McLoughlin

      Sybina McLoughlin

      Oct 10, 2019

      We are hoping and praying that you have the strength to deal with this this ridiculous situation. Keep going.

      £60.00

    • Anonymous

      Anonymous

      Oct 4, 2019

      £20.00

    • Hilary Stephens

      Hilary Stephens

      Oct 3, 2019

      I HOPE YOUR WISHES COME TRUE. GOOD LUCK

      £20.00

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    About the fundraiser
    Adriana  Ortega-Zeifert

    Adriana Ortega-Zeifert

    Manchester

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