A mother is urging the UK Home Office not to separate her family, as she and her three children have been instructed to leave the country within 14 days. Chamila Dilrakshi, a teaching assistant, faces deportation to Sri Lanka along with her children, despite her husband being allowed to remain in the UK. Having resided in the UK since 2022, changes to visa regulations introduced under the Conservative government have put their status at risk.
Expressing her distress, Chamila, aged 45, shared her shock at the mandate for herself and her children, Thedara (12), Vivas (9), and Hiran (8), to depart even though they entered the UK legally. She emphasized the emotional impact on her children, who have established connections and a sense of belonging in the UK. Chamila highlighted the dilemma of separating her children from their father, as only she and her children are facing expulsion.
Appealing to the Home Office, Chamila emphasized the family’s positive contributions to the community and urged reconsideration before uprooting them. Their Member of Parliament, Victoria Collins, described them as integral community members receiving widespread support. She criticized the immigration system for its lack of fairness and the adverse consequences of driving away valuable contributors.
The family relocated to the UK when Rasika pursued a Master’s degree at Northumbria University four years ago. While Rasika secured a visa after finding employment as a care worker, enabling his stay, his family’s permission to remain was denied due to stricter rules on dependents. Colleagues of Chamila have advocated for her to stay, and the family is contesting the decision through an appeal process.
The recent changes affecting care workers’ visas have sparked outrage among migrant support groups. Fizza Qureshi, the Chief Executive of Migrants’ Rights Network, condemned the government’s treatment of migrant care workers, emphasizing the need for respect and humane policies.
While the Home Office refrains from commenting on individual cases, they reiterated the importance of maintaining border control and rewarding contributions from immigrants who comply with regulations. They emphasized the privilege of settling in the UK, underscoring the need for adherence to rules and contributions to earn residency rights in the country.
