In cases of deportation of someone you know, a family member or a member of your community, writing a letter of support for the person to not be deported can sometimes be helpful.
In high-profile cases where someone faces the threat of serious harm or even death when they return to their home country, the public is often asked by human rights groups to write letters to help convince the government to stop a deportation. When someone you know is being deported, you may have unique insight into the person’s character or the situation they may face abroad, making you a vital component of fighting their deportation order.
Amnesty International has created an excellent letter writing toolkit for human rights issues, including asking governments to cancel deportation orders. We’ve uploaded this toolkit to our website, just click here: Amnesty Letter Writing Toolkit. The toolkit has sample arguments you can use to help get your point across.
How to write a letter for someone not to be deported:
1. First, you will want to discuss the situation with an immigration lawyer. A letter could make the situation worse, so the immigration lawyer can better advise you of how your letter can be written to benefit the deportee.
2. Ensure your letter has a respectful tone and is written properly. Make sure you use proper language and that your name and address are in the top left hand corner. Do not use capital letters to add emphasis throughout the letter, but instead use bold text.
3. Only use facts in your letter instead of assumptions or opinions, and back up these facts with documentation wherever possible.
4. Have an immigration lawyer review your letter to ensure that it is effective and well-written. Your lawyer can also help you determine where the letter should be sent.