A COUNCILLOR has denounced the sudden "snatch and expel" tactics of Immigration officers after a student was detained.

Afghan Majid Amiri, 19, who goes to Canterbury College, was seized without notice while visiting a friend in Chatham.

He is being detained at Tinsley House, near Gatwick Airport and will be flown back to Afghanistan on Saturday. A London-based lawyer is working to secure grounds for a fresh appeal to allow him to stay.

Cllr Wes McLachlan set up Community Action for Young Refugees to fight deportation of young people, many of whom are already integrated into the community.

He said: "One of the more disgusting aspects of Majid’s case is the 'snatch and expel' policy that seems to be routine for the Home Office now. He is yet another victim of the system and there are a lot of people busy this week to try and help him."

Majid, who moved from Whitstable to Station Road West, Canterbury, nine months ago, is a former housemate of one-time detainee and ex-Canterbury High School pupil Amin Buratee.

Amin, who is also studying at Canterbury College, is still waiting for an appeal date for his stay in the UK to be extended.

A Red Cross search has confirmed Majid’s immediate family in Afghanistan are all missing.

His girlfriend Siobhan Tuppeney said: "It is a complete waste. Majid already has some qualifications from the college and he is totally committed to studying for his future here.

"The Home Office is going about this the wrong way. All Majid’s time and effort has been thrown away along with the money already spent on him. Why don’t Immigration spend their time on those illegal immigrants who are dealing drugs or involved in other crime."

A support group of Majid’s college friends secured hundreds of signatures in Canterbury and Whitstable this week. A Home Office spokesman said each case was judged on its individual merits.

He said: "When the child hits 18, he or she can apply for leave to remain. If they are refused that, they can appeal against that. If all avenues of appeal have been exhausted then we will seek to remove them."