Following a number of high-profile cases including that of Paulette Wilson which we wrote about here, advocacy groups and Caribbean diplomats have asked the UK government to exhibit more compassion towards citizens who arrived in UK with their parents as children decades ago and who may have unresolved residency and citizenship status.
A number of such persons have in recent weeks been detained and threatened with deportation by the Home Office despite having lived in the UK for all or most of their adult lives. Many of the targeted persons are senior citizens and were unaware that they were required to formally become naturalised. As a result of this omission, many have faced problems accessing pension, housing, health care and work.
Evidence of harsh treatment by the Home Office has also recently been brought to light. With the hostile atmosphere they face, advocacy groups and several diplomats – including the Barbadian High Commissioner – are now concerned that persons may now be reluctant to regularise their position because of fears they may be detained or deported.
