The deportation case of an elderly Indian Sikh woman, Gurmit Kaur, has garnered immense support from the community in England’s West Midlands. Kaur, 78, arrived in the UK in 2009 and has since made Smethwick her home. An online petition launched in July 2020 has garnered over 65,000 signatures, with the hashtag “We Are All Gurmit Kaur” gaining traction on social media platforms.
The petition highlights that Kaur has no family in the UK or Punjab, India, and therefore, the local Sikh community in Smethwick has taken her under their wing. Despite applying to stay, Kaur has been refused by the UK Home Office, which argues that she has connections in her village in Punjab and can readjust to life there.
Salman Mirza, an immigration advisor for the Brushstroke Community Project, who initiated the petition and is assisting Kaur with her visa appeals process, described her ordeal as torture. The Home Office spokesperson stated that they cannot comment on individual cases but assured that all applications are thoroughly evaluated based on their merits and supporting evidence.
Kaur initially traveled to the UK in 2009 to attend a wedding and initially lived with her son. However, after becoming estranged from her family, she relied on the kindness of strangers and actively volunteers at local charities.
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