More than 100 letters have been sent to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in support of a Nigerian woman living in Tramore, Co Waterford, who is facing deportation.
A rally is to be held in the town on Saturday by supporters of the woman who arrived in the Republic last June with two of her children, a boy aged 15 and a girl aged nine.
Under the new legislation, she cannot be identified in the media without the permission of the Minister for Justice. Despite repeated requests to the Department yesterday, a decision on permission was not forthcoming. Her application for asylum has failed, and she is now seeking the permission of the Minister for Justice to remain here on humanitarian grounds. Her life, she says, will be in danger if she is forced to return home.
Ms Alison Tuohy, chairwoman of the Tramore Pro-Refugee Group, which organised this weekend's rally, said the woman had received widespread support since her case was reported in The Irish Times last week and subsequently on RTE news.
"We were in Waterford on Friday and people were coming up to [her] all day saying `We saw you on television', `We'll be there on Saturday' and generally wishing her well. There is an awful lot of support for her."
The 120 letters and cards received by the group and passed on to the Department included a card made by classmates of the woman's daughter in Glor na Mara primary school, with the message "Please don't let our friend go", Ms Tuohy said.
Since a public meeting last week, support for the woman has gathered momentum, with local trade unions, including the ATGWU and SIPTU, backing her request to be allowed stay in the State.
Saturday's rally will start at the car-park opposite the Majestic Hotel at 2 p.m.
