A 2-year-old girl and her parents are among a group of Indian students who have tried seeking sanctuary in an Auckland church to avoid being deported. Photo: GettyImagesA 2-year-old girl has been caught up in a group of Indian students who plan to seek sanctuary in an Auckland church to avoid being deported. The girl's mother Asha Rani is one of nine students who received letters yesterday that said their appeals to Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse had been declined. Mr Woodhouse's spokeswoman said the students' appeals were delegated to Immigration NZ officials because new Associate Immigration Minister David Bennett's authority to handle appeals is still passing through Cabinet. Mr Carolan said Catholic Church leaders had written to Prime Minister Bill English in a last-ditch appeal for clemency for the students.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 03, 2017 01:03 UTC