JAMAICAN WOMAN WHO RESIDED IN BRITAIN FOR OVER 40YRS ALMOST DEPORTED

in the UK
LOOP NEWS CREATED : 27 OCTOBER 2017 JAMAICA NEWS Paulette Wilson (PHOTO: BBC)
Paulette Wilson (PHOTO: BBC)

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A Jamaican woman who has lived in the United Kingdom for almost 50 years and was under threat of deportation, has been released from an immigration removal centre in keeping with British regulations.

Paulette Wilson, 61, arrived in Telford from Jamaica in 1968 at age 10. After almost 50 years in the country, she was detained for a week at Yarl’s Wood centre before being released when the authorities were satisfied with proof from her lawyer that she had the right to remain in Britain based on government regulations.

The regulations state that anyone who settled in the UK up to January 1, 1973, (automatically) has the right to remain in the country.

It appears that the Home Office either ignored or overlooked the regulations, and detained her on October 18.

But, importantly, Wilson is in the process of acquiring a passport to lay the basis to regularise her status in the UK.

Her solicitor, James Wilson, said evidence had been supplied to the British Government that she had been in the country prior to 1973.

Reports in the British press indicate that Wilson, who now lives in Wolverhampton, was in the care of her grandparents in Wellington, Telford, when she first arrived in Britain.

She has remained in the country, and never visited Jamaica, and has 34 years of National Insurance payments. She also has a British daughter and grandchild, her lawyer indicated.

Indications are that her troubles started back in 2015, when Wilson received a letter indicating that she had “no right” to be in the country. This was challenged by the Refugee and Migrant Centre in Wolverhampton, which has been campaigning for her release.

Wilson was told by the authorities that she had to register each month in Solihull, and it was while reporting to immigration officials there on October 18 that she was detained and taken to the Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre.