Community fights for elderly Indian woman facing deportation from UK
The issue of an elderly indian Sikh woman, which was initially brought to light in 2019, has continued to garner considerable community support in England's West Midlands region as her supporters battle against her deportation. Gurmit Kaur, 78, moved to the UK in 2009 and has lived in Smethwick ever since, according to an internet petition that has garnered over 65,000 signatures since it was established in July 2020.
Recently, the hashtag "We Are All Gurmit Kaur" has been trending on social media as the local community rallies around the widow. "Gurmit Kaur has no family to turn to in the UK and no family to return to in punjab, so the local Sikh community of Smethwick have adopted her," according to the petition posted on Change.Org.
"Gurmit applied to stay but was denied, despite the fact that she has no family in punjab, India." Gurmit is a very giving lady; even though she has little, she will always give what she can, when she can. "She spends the majority of her days volunteering at the local gurdwara," it says.
According to the UK native Office, Kaur was still in contact with people in her native village in punjab and would be able to adjust to life there.
Salman Mirza, an immigration expert with the Brushstroke Community Project who began the petition and is one of those assisting Kaur with her visa appeals, told the BBC that her situation has been like torment for her.
"She has a run-down house in the village with no roof and would have to find heating, food, and resources in a village she hasn't visited in 11 years." "It's like water torture, a slow death; she's never had the right to work and provide for herself," he explained.
According to a spokeswoman for the home Office, "all applications are carefully considered on their individual merits and on the basis of the evidence provided."
Kaur first visited the UK in 2009 to attend a wedding and lived with her son at the time.
Recently, the hashtag "We Are All Gurmit Kaur" has been trending on social media as the local community rallies around the widow. "Gurmit Kaur has no family to turn to in the UK and no family to return to in punjab, so the local Sikh community of Smethwick have adopted her," according to the petition posted on Change.Org.
"Gurmit applied to stay but was denied, despite the fact that she has no family in punjab, India." Gurmit is a very giving lady; even though she has little, she will always give what she can, when she can. "She spends the majority of her days volunteering at the local gurdwara," it says.
According to the UK native Office, Kaur was still in contact with people in her native village in punjab and would be able to adjust to life there.
Salman Mirza, an immigration expert with the Brushstroke Community Project who began the petition and is one of those assisting Kaur with her visa appeals, told the BBC that her situation has been like torment for her.
"She has a run-down house in the village with no roof and would have to find heating, food, and resources in a village she hasn't visited in 11 years." "It's like water torture, a slow death; she's never had the right to work and provide for herself," he explained.
According to a spokeswoman for the home Office, "all applications are carefully considered on their individual merits and on the basis of the evidence provided."
Kaur first visited the UK in 2009 to attend a wedding and lived with her son at the time.