"I have never welcomed the weakening of family ties by politics or pressure" - Nelson Mandela.
"He who travels for love finds a thousand miles no longer than one" - Japanese proverb.
"Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence." - Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
"When people's love is divided by law, it is the law that needs to change". -
David Cameron.

Friday 18 December 2015

Stephen & Yilei - Divided Family of the Week




“We don’t claim benefits and own our own home, yet Yilei is being threatened with deportation.”



Stephen is a British citizen whose roots in Britain can be traced back several generations.  Stephen recently became the proud father of a beautiful baby boy, Ethan, with his partner of about five years, Yilei from China.


Stephen and Yilei met whilst they were both working in the UAE.  They lived happily together in Abu Dhabi for four years before Stephen returned to the UK

On advice from the British embassy in Abu Dhabi they applied and paid for the required visa for Yilei to join Stephen as his partner, in the UK.  The visa was issued, 

Five years on, they have set up home here, their son has been born here, they have fully paid for their home with no outstanding mortgage or loan.  However, the Home Office is rejecting their application for Yilei and is trying to deport her.

The wife of a British citizen, the mother of a British citizen is being told she has to leave her husband and son.  She is being told that her papers are now with Capita to arrange her removal.

Stephen is bemused.  He doesn’t claim benefits.  He works hard, they own their home and have a secure family unit for their son.  His partner is the best of the best; yet they’re being torn apart.

For what? A few votes? Pacifying some voters who don’t know any better?  There is no logic in this decision to take away a child’s mother.   It achieves nothing except destruction - financial, emotional physical and mental. 

2 comments: