the quality of mercy is strained

Big Brother contestant Makosi Musambasi, who is threatened with deportation, has said: "Terrorists are treated better than me."

She lost her right to stay in the country when she resigned from her job as a trainee in the cardiac unit of High Wycombe Hospital, Bucks, to appear on a television programme. Because of her resignation Ms Musambasi's working visa has been curtailed. She must leave the country or appeal.

"A lot of illegal immigrants are paid to stay in this country and are fed by taxpayers," she continued. "I am here paying my taxes and working but I'm treated like a thug."

Ms Musambasi was stopped by police on Monday over a driving matter, when immigration officials questioned her about her visa.

"Terrorists don't even go through that," she said.

Ms Musambasi said she hoped to return to nursing but said she could not go back yet because she had "a lot of magazine and TV things coming up" and that she could "a lot for charity". "I couldn't walk back onto a ward now - instead of reversing heart attacks, I would cause heart attacks"

Ms Musambasi came third in a television game show earlier this month.