A WOMAN locked up in a detention centre for eight months awaiting deportation has been released on bail. Flora Yennyuy was due to be sent back to Cameroon earlier this year, despite having lived in Hull for seven years.
Her flight back to the country was cancelled after her solicitor stepped in.
She lodged an appeal in April, but it was turned down. Since then, she has remained at a detention centre in Bedfordshire.
But she has now been released on bail and has returned to Hull while her appeal is processed.
Her partner, Keith McDonald, said: "Flora is extremely relieved to be back in Hull.
"I think we were very lucky that we caught the authorities on a good day when they released her.
"But I think she was released because of the amount of time she has spent in the detention centre."
Ms Yennyuy, 34, arrived in Hull in 2007. She completed a master's degree in environmental technology at the University of Hull.
She has carried out community work with churches in west Hull and has been involved in the city's Open Doors Project.
Ms Yennyuy was also a trustee at the Mental Health Action Group, where she was involved in making black and minority ethnic communities aware of mental health issues.
Mr McDonald said Ms Yennyuy, who was released a few weeks ago, is now starting to get back to some normality.
He said: "She is now getting used to being in the outside world again but she has experienced a massive overload.
"Flora is already getting involved in her community again with the local church.
"She really appreciates all the support she has had.
"We were concerned about her mental wellbeing, but we are already seeing signs of improvement. She is doing great."
Mr McDonald said he has also suffered and will not be able to relax unless a decision is made to let Ms Yennyuy stay. He said: "For me, it is a huge relief she is out.
"But it is far from over and we are still awaiting the decision over whether to deport Flora.
"Every time a letter comes through the door, my heart stops as it could be from the court. I am still on edge.
"Everything is still going through the courts and we don't know when we will hear anything. It could be two weeks or two months."
A petition was launched to stop Ms Yennyuy from being deported as the community rallied round to support her.
The petition on the Change.org website attracted hundreds of signatures.
