A pregnant woman facing deportation fears for her life and that of her unborn child if she is forced to board a long-haul flight home to the US.
Perth woman Eleanor Mapp has had four high-risk pregnancies in the past. One of her children, Mia, died after being born prematurely, Seven News reports. She also lost twins during another pregnancy.
Yet, the 30-year-old may be forced to board a plane back to the US – which would include at least a 10-hour leg depending on what city she leaves from.
Mapp's bridging visa expires today, and she says the Department of Immigration wants to send her back to the US as soon as possible.
The prospect of being in the air for so long terrifies her.
"I’m scared, I’m fearing for my life," she told Seven News.
"If I get sent back home, my unborn child as well as I, will die."
Mapp's doctor, Alida Lancee has told immigration that "without proper high level obstetric care, Eleanor and her baby are at high risk of dying and it is too risky to send her back to the USA until her baby is born".
Adding to her distress is the prospect of being homeless if she returns to the US.
"I have nowhere to go," she said. "I’ll be out on the street. No money, no healthcare, nowhere to stay."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection told News.com.au the department had been working to resolve her visa status for 12 months, adding she had no active visa application lodged with them.
They said anyone in this position who is medically fit to travel is expected to leave. That may be the sticking point because Mapp - and her doctor - argue she isn't.
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Top Comments
Subtext of this is that she has no health insurance if she goes home - thus no way of funding her pregnancy and subsequent care of her child.
Oh, so what. These are freaking people here, a young woman and an infant child. I'm quite happy to help her and I find our anti-human government to be a joke.