Deportation of Peterborough woman who came here as a child slammed by MP

The decision to deport a woman from Peterborough has been condemned by the city's Labour MP who is demanding Home Secretary Sajid Javid intervenes.
Shankea Stewart from  Paston who is facing deportation proceedings EMN-181009-204615009Shankea Stewart from  Paston who is facing deportation proceedings EMN-181009-204615009
Shankea Stewart from Paston who is facing deportation proceedings EMN-181009-204615009

Shankea Stewart (29) from Paston is due to be kicked out of the UK 17 years after she came to live with her dad.

The granddaughter of a Windrush migrant believes she has been treated “appallingly” by the Home Office, and her case is being taken up by MP for Peterborough Fiona Onasanya. The MP said: “My team have been working closely with Shankea throughout her case and have now requested the Home Secretary intervenes.

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“Following the Windrush revelations it is evident this is not an isolated case and I will continue to support Shankea until the Government does the right thing and grants her indefinite leave to remain.”

Shankea Stewart from  Paston who is facing deportation proceedings EMN-181009-204659009Shankea Stewart from  Paston who is facing deportation proceedings EMN-181009-204659009
Shankea Stewart from Paston who is facing deportation proceedings EMN-181009-204659009

As well as her dad Richard, who has indefinite leave to remain, Shankea has close relatives who live here, but an immigration tribunal ruled against her right to stay in the UK based on her family life.

Shankea missed her mother Sharon’s funeral in Jamaica as she feared not being allowed back into the UK, and she believes that if deported she would not be able to return for any UK funerals, while her dad is too ill to fly and visit her.

Moreover, Shankea has not been allowed to work during her long battle with the Home Office, but volunteers as a youth worker. Through her solicitors she is now applying to the Upper Tribunal to appeal the decision to remove her.

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She said: “I was 12 when I came here. I was a young girl dependent on my parents.

“I’ve never claimed benefits and I don’t have a criminal record. I was not given the opportunity to obtain my degree, to work. What’s the point in existing? I’m a strong woman, but it’s hard. I have been treated appallingly.”

Shankea’s grandfather was a Windrush migrant who worked in a Somerset factory before returning home.

The Home Office said: “All applications are considered on their individual merits and in line with UK immigration rules and guidance.

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“In this case, the evidence provided was not sufficient to meet the eligibility criteria.”

* In April the PT featured Windrush migrant Winston Dorman from Werrington who was separated from his wife and young son for two-and-a-half years after they were deported. The ex-RAF serviceman was also told he was not a British citizen despite arriving as a teenager and having a National Insurance number. The family finally won their case to all live in the UK.