‘Cruel’ reprieve for Sri Lankan family to stay in New Zealand
A Sri Lankan family in Queenstown who faced deportation this week have been given a short-term reprieve, but there’s a cruel twist.
The family can stay, for now, because a humanitarian appeal has been lodged with the Immigration and Protection Tribunal on behalf of Dinesha Amarasinghe, her husband, Sam, and their three sons.
That means they cannot be served with a deportation order until the tribunal makes a decision, which can take four to six months. If the tribunal decides against the family, they will have 28 days to leave.
But, while they wait, the parents will not be able to legally work in New Zealand during this period and the children will not be able to attend school after January 6.
The boys are 8, 10 and 11, and are noted for their academic and cricketing successes at Queenstown Primary School.
The situation was ‘‘incredibly cruel’’, said Baskets of Blessing coordinator Tam Schurman, who has presented Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker with a petition signed by more than 2000 people asking for the family to stay in New Zealand.
‘‘The toll on this family is unbelievable ... we need to together keep up the pressure so there’s a quick response. I don’t feel we can wait six months,’’ she said.
Deporting them to Sri Lanka would be ‘‘throwing those children to the wolves’’, she said.
Walker met with the family yesterday and assured them he was ‘‘fighting really hard’’, on their behalf.
He had already written to the Immigration Minister requesting an exception be made and a temporary visa be issued to allow Sam to work.
‘‘That will be a huge difference while we’re waiting for the tribunal.’’
Walker said he also had had many emails in support of the family and encouraged others to contact him.
‘‘Clearly you’ve made a big impact in this community. We really want you to stay here.’’
Walker said he had also requested a meeting with Assistant Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi, as the file would likely be handed to him
The family’s immigration advocate Shane Robinson said it would be unusual for the minister to intervene in a case before all the legal avenues had been worked through but the minister did have the power to grant a visa.
‘‘If he does that [Sam] wouldn’t be unlawful anymore and won’t be deported and he can earn money and support the family.’’
The solution would be temporary and the family would still need to seek residency, which is complicated by Dinesha’s health and Sam’s previous status as an overstayer in Japan in 2006.
The humanitarian appeal was based on Dinesha’s illness and the prohibitive cost of her treatment, plus the fact that the boys had grown up here and did not speak Singhalese (the language of Sri Lanka), he said.
A Givealittle page has already raised more than $20,000 from over 400 donations.
Dinesha said she was overwhelmed by the kindness and support she had received from the community. ‘‘I don’t need any big life just eduction for my kids and a better future for them. That’s why I came here.’’