The Hull Daily Mail has renewed its bid to reunite a family it says has been torn apart by bureaucracy, publishing a front page appeal to immigration minister Liam Byrne to allow a woman deported to the US to return to Britain.

The paper has been intensively covering the story of Deborah Phillips, her six-year-old daughter and her ailing mother Betty for months.

Deborah was born in America but spent much of her childhood in Hull and after serving in the US Navy moved back to Hull in 2003 to care for her father, Phil, who has since died, and her mother, Betty.

A year ago she and her daughter were deported and Deborah has since been fighting to be allowed to return to be with her mother, but the Home Office has now refused to grant an appeal for her to return to Hull on a carer’s visa.

Hull Daily Mail editor John Meehan told HoldtheFrontPage that the paper would not give up its fight for Deborah.

In addition to its front page yesterday, it dedicated four pages to the campaign, including printing in full a letter from the editor to Liam Byrne.

This was accompanied by letters of support from “pillars of the community”, including the Lord Mayor of Hull, a copy of which was delivered to the immigration minister’s desk.

John told HoldtheFrontPage: “They really are victims of bureaucracy and rules applied with terrible inflexibility.

“We felt we had to make a direct appeal to the immigration minister setting out all the facts of the story and urging him to intervene personally right this wrong.

“We are expecting a prompt response and very much hope it will be positive.”

He added: “Some campaigns are easy wins. With some campaigns it’s very clear that you are on to a winner.

“This is an uphill battle and has been from day one, but that doesn’t mean we should be discouraged. We feel there is a very serious injustice which has affected one family in a terrible way and are determined not to give up.”

In his letter, John told the immigration minister: “The family’s ordeal has moved more than 2,000 of our readers to send e-mails, letters and coupons in support of our Bring Back Deborah campaign.

“They simply cannot understand why a woman who grew up in Britain and has spent much of her life in this country has been forced to leave all she loves, and all who love her, behind.

“Last week, the Home Office refused to grant an appeal for Deborah to return to Hull on a carer’s visa, even though this action had been suggested by an immigration judge.

“Deborah and her family have now reached the end of the road, with the Home Office insisting the deportation order remains, and she has no right to appeal.

“However, we believe this case is exceptional, justifying your personal intervention to allow her to come home.

“We feel sure, as a family man as well as a Government minister, you will appreciate the anguish and despair this family is being forced to endure and the need for you to bring it to an end.”