Gardaí were today searching for a South African woman who failed to present herself for deportation.
Ms Nteta Appiakorang and her two daughters - who had lived in Co Kerry for more than two years - had been due to present themselves at Tralee police station yesterday.
Officers said the 38-year-old disappeared, leaving behind her daughters and a note for friends.
Recently friends and colleagues had mounted a campaign asking the Taoiseach Mr Ahern and the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, to allow the family to stay, but this was unsuccessful.
Ms Appiakorang had worked as a volunteer with a charity for people with housing problems.
Gardaí said they were concerned for her due to the distressed state she was in when she left, and appealed to anybody with information on her whereabouts to come forward.