A DAD-of-four who has been detained ahead of the deportation flight to Jamaica next week has said he fears for his mental health and the lives of his children as he awaits his fate.

Amroy Deans, from Birmingham, is one of 43 Jamaican nationals being held across Colnbrook, Harmondsworth, Brook House and Yarl’s Wood detention centres since news of the deportation broke two weeks ago. 

Movement for Justice (MFJ) have spoken to detainees across the sites and said that three are reported to be descendants from the Windrush generation.

The pending charter flight to Jamaica is the third to be ordered by the Home Office as (MFJ) demonstrators gathered outside the Jamaican High Commission yesterday to urge Jamaica not to accept the plane.

Campaigners have called on the Jamaican Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, to intervene in the deportation. 

Mr Deans, who has lived in the UK since he was 16-years-old, was sentenced to an eight-month custodial sentence following a breach of a non-molestation order in 2018. 

Some detainees, now known as the #Jamaica50, are also reported to have no criminal convictions, according to MFJ.

He told The Voice that people being held at detention centres and labelled as dangerous criminals by the Home Office is untrue.

“There’s a lot of us here [at Colnbrook] and I can only say what I see with my own eyes,” he said. 

“You have people that make mistakes and they want to change their life as well. I think they deserve an opportunity to change their life.

“I breached my non-molestation order and I did 8-months. That was three years ago and I haven’t committed any crime since. 

“We do need a chance in life. We have good and we have bad, people shouldn’t mix the two.”

The Home Office insist that they remove dangerous criminals, and those who have no right to be in the country but refuse to leave voluntarily.

But campaigners say that comments by ministers, and media reports favourable to the government, create the distinct impression that the majority of people earmarked for deportation are murderers and rapists, which is untrue.

While isolated in detention, Mr Deans described his mental health as “really bad” as he remains separated from his young family. 

MFJ have reported that around several detainees are suffering from serious mental health conditions like ADHD and paranoid schizophrenia, along with other ailments such as high blood pressure and asthma. 

Speaking to The Voice, Bella Sankey, director of Detention Action, said: “The reports we’ve received from inside that people facing imminent deportation are unable to send legal documentation out of the facility.

“Detention and deportation can not be done fairly or safely in a pandemic and in these circumstances airlines should be refusing to fly.”

Concerns have also been raised about the health and safety of detainees with several cases of Covid-19 already confirmed across the detention centres.

Ms Sankey added: “Since last week, Colnbrook detention centre has been under lockdown in response to yet another Covid outbreak and masks and lateral flow tests have been in short supply, leaving people vulnerable to infection.”

Mr Deans expressed his fear of catching the virus while in isolation at Colnbrook.

“I only have the mask I came in with,” he said. “We haven’t been given any sanitiser and everyone is mixing, so there are germs around. There’s no safety measures. 

“I haven’t seen my kids and I don’t want my daughter to come and visit me while there is Covid here.”

Detention Action has been bringing attention to the plight of children and families ripped apart when a parent or guardian is forced into detainment.

They continue to campaign for the Home Office to fulfil their duty of care to the children left behind when charter flights are due to take place.

A spokesperson from Families for Justice, said: “We have all had our families torn apart by unjust deportations, and we feel our grief and fear especially acutely this week.

“Another mass deportation means British families and communities currently enduring what can only be described as mental torture at the hands of the British government.

“To them we want to say: we live your pain every day, and we stand with you. Priti Patel should immediately cancel this charter flight, and instead start treating all black and mixed race families in this country with humanity.”

Mr Dean told The Voice that being apart from his family is like having a “breakdown”.

“My eight-year-old son keeps asking when he’s going to see me and I just tell him very soon. I feel he must be depressed right now,” he said. “I used to take him to the park every weekend to play with his brother and sister.

“I speak to my oldest daughter in the evenings and she’s very emotional. I have to tell her we’ll soon be together again.”

Mr Dean has been in touch with his legal representatives while in detention and hopes to hear from the Home Office soon.

He added: “I’m doing everything that I can not to go on that plane – the UK is home.”

A total of 24 British children face being separated from their fathers ahead of the charter flight with the number expected to rise in the coming days.

One detainee is reported to be expecting a baby due next year.

The charter flight to Jamaica is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 10th November.