A campaign was begun in Waterford yesterday to prevent a South African woman from being deported.
Up to 50 people attended the event organised by the Waterford Council of Trade Unions (WCTU) and the Waterford Against Racism group.
Ms Weziwe Mandisa Olubuunor (31) arrived in Ireland in May, 2001.
Since then she has volunteered with the Healing Arts Project at Waterford Regional Hospital, and at the Waterford Arts Festival.
She has also worked with the Waterford Area Partnership in establishing the Waterford Refugee and Asylum Seeker Council.
She has applied to the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, for humanitarian leave to remain in the country despite being refused refugee status.
She claims she fled her country after both her parents and her brother were killed by a political grouping and her home was destroyed.
The secretary of the WCTU, Mr Roy Hassey, said yesterday that they along with Ms Olubuunor are seeking a meeting with Mr McDowell next Monday while he is in Waterford. Mr Hassey added that the WCTU, along with friends of Ms Olubuunor, intend to protest outside a public meeting being attended by the Minister at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) at 7 p.m. on Monday.
In addition to her volunteer work, Ms Olubuunor is studying office practice and organisation in WIT. This is funded by Waterford Crystal and the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union.
She said yesterday she feels she has a lot to offer the community. "I am begging the Minister to give me a chance. It is the first time in my life I have felt secure." She also spoke of her shock at being refused asylum on the grounds that she could not prove her life was in danger.
Ms Olubuunor claims if she got a work permit she would get a job. She also said she would like to build "better relations between the police and the African community".
Ms Olubuunor's husband came to Ireland after his wife's arrival and is also seeking refugee status. The couple are separated and he lives in Dublin.
The Department of Justice said yesterday it could not comment on individual cases.