Move to deport Pinoy family from UK questioned
MANILA, Philippines - After securing a work permit, Filipina care worker Flora Domagas thought that she would finally be able to permanently stay in the United Kingdom, only to have her visa application refused.
Supporters of the Filipino family living in Pembrokeshire, a county southwest of Wales in the United Kingdom, were angered upon learning of the possible deportation, BBC News reported on Friday.
“Most of the people here are very angry with the decision. It’s very difficult for the family," said Mercedes Davies, a friend of the Domagas family.
According to the report, Domagas, her husband Ernesto, and their children Ronniel, Alexa, Ronnelle, and Alexandra have been in Wales for more than five years since she started working at a nursing home there.
However, they had to be financially supported by their friends for the past 18 months while fighting to stay in the UK.
“They granted my work permit but now the visa they refused. It’s really hard because we don’t have money to spend for our daily needs - the Filipino community and the rest are helping," said Domagas.
Conservative Member of Parliament for Preseli Pembrokeshire Stephen Crabb said that there was a job waiting for the Filipina worker.
“There is no question at all that Flora is needed within the local labor market," he said.
Crab said he thought they had already cracked the case eight weeks ago when the home secretary herself told them that the work permit was granted, only to be faced with Domagas’ visa application denial.
He criticized the Home Office, the lead government department for immigration and passports.
“We are really trying hard now to get some clear answers out of the Home Office about where we go next," he said.
In addition, the UK Border Agency was in a “mess," he said.
“This latest turn of events just shows what a mess, I think, a lot of the systems within the Border Agency are in at the moment," he said.
The UK Border Agency was formed in April 2008 to improve the United Kingdoms’ security through stronger border protection.
The Agency currently does the work previously carried out by the Border and Immigration Agency, Customs detection work at the border from the Queen’s Revenue and Customs, and UK Visa Services from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
However, the UK Border Agency told BBC News that it did not comment on individual cases.
But a spokesperson reportedly said that “just because an individual has previously resided in the United Kingdom for work purposes does not mean that they will be granted permission to remain in the UK in further applications for leave."
The report said that the Filipino community and members of the St. David and St. Patrick Church in Haverfordwest, a county town of Pembrokeshire, would continue to help the family. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV
Supporters of the Filipino family living in Pembrokeshire, a county southwest of Wales in the United Kingdom, were angered upon learning of the possible deportation, BBC News reported on Friday.
“Most of the people here are very angry with the decision. It’s very difficult for the family," said Mercedes Davies, a friend of the Domagas family.
According to the report, Domagas, her husband Ernesto, and their children Ronniel, Alexa, Ronnelle, and Alexandra have been in Wales for more than five years since she started working at a nursing home there.
However, they had to be financially supported by their friends for the past 18 months while fighting to stay in the UK.
“They granted my work permit but now the visa they refused. It’s really hard because we don’t have money to spend for our daily needs - the Filipino community and the rest are helping," said Domagas.
Conservative Member of Parliament for Preseli Pembrokeshire Stephen Crabb said that there was a job waiting for the Filipina worker.
“There is no question at all that Flora is needed within the local labor market," he said.
Crab said he thought they had already cracked the case eight weeks ago when the home secretary herself told them that the work permit was granted, only to be faced with Domagas’ visa application denial.
He criticized the Home Office, the lead government department for immigration and passports.
“We are really trying hard now to get some clear answers out of the Home Office about where we go next," he said.
In addition, the UK Border Agency was in a “mess," he said.
“This latest turn of events just shows what a mess, I think, a lot of the systems within the Border Agency are in at the moment," he said.
The UK Border Agency was formed in April 2008 to improve the United Kingdoms’ security through stronger border protection.
The Agency currently does the work previously carried out by the Border and Immigration Agency, Customs detection work at the border from the Queen’s Revenue and Customs, and UK Visa Services from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
However, the UK Border Agency told BBC News that it did not comment on individual cases.
But a spokesperson reportedly said that “just because an individual has previously resided in the United Kingdom for work purposes does not mean that they will be granted permission to remain in the UK in further applications for leave."
The report said that the Filipino community and members of the St. David and St. Patrick Church in Haverfordwest, a county town of Pembrokeshire, would continue to help the family. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV
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