Woman deported from UK despite being married to Briton for 27 years

[muriel_volestrangler]

Clennell first arrived in London in 1988 and married John, a British man, two years later. They settled in County Durham and had two children together. She now has one grandchild.
...
Clennell was given indefinite leave to remain in the UK after marrying John in 1990 but spent periods back in Singapore caring for her parents before they died.

The government’s spousal visa system requires the British partner to prove earnings of at least £18,600 and the couple being able to show long stretches of uninterrupted time living in the UK.

Clennell lost her leave to remain as the time she spent out of the country when her parents were dying was too long. She has made repeated attempts – in Singapore and back in the UK – to reapply for permission to live with her husband.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/26/grandmother-deported-from-uk-despite-being-married-to-briton-for-27-years

This is absurd, and cruel. There must surely be some allowance in the system for special circumstances when someone has been doing the responsible thing, like looking after their parents.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. That is inhuman!

[SwissTony]

2. Unbelievable. Doesn't anyone have a drop of common sense?

Now she's not only separated from her family, her husband is sick!!!! And she can't tend to him.

I really am lost for words.

[Denzil_DC]

3. Some developments on this:

Deported Grandmother Says She Was Treated "Like A Terrorist" By Security Escorts

...

MPs called on the home secretary to “intervene immediately” in Clennell’s case after BuzzFeed news reported that she was being deported on Sunday. Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said the case “illustrates everything that is brutal and unfair about this government’s immigration policy”.

...

Readers reacted to the story by pledging to help her find accommodation in Singapore and offered legal advice. A fundraising page set up after BuzzFeed News first reported her legal battle when she was in detention was flooded with donations overnight and has now far exceeded its target of £20,000.

...

Her sister-in-law Angela said the family had been inundated with calls and pledges to help. “I’d like to thank BuzzFeed for the post,” she said. “The fund has just gone through the roof and lots of people have offered to put her up.”

...

Liberal Democrat shadow home secretary Brian Paddick said: “This case highlights the irrationality and inhumanity of our immigration system. When the rules are this arbitrary and rigid, anyone can find themselves on the wrong side of them.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/emilydugan/grandmother-says-she-was-treated-like-a-terrorist-by-flight