'Illegal immigrant' could be deported...

dirtydog · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:33

A woman of 80 who has lived here since she was aged two :rolleyes:

Pensioner in deportation threat

An 80-year-old woman who moved to Scotland from America in 1929 has been told she could be deported as an illegal immigrant.
Marguerite Grimmond was born in Detroit but moved to Arbroath with her Scottish mother when she was two.

At the beginning of May she left Scotland for the first time for a holiday in Australia.

But when she returned, officials said her American passport was not valid and that she could not stay in the country.

The immigration officers said Mrs Grimmond, who had never applied for British citizenship, should have had her passport stamped by the Home Office before she set off on her holiday.

They told her she would only be able to stay in Scotland for a further four weeks, after which time she was legally required to return to America.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/6756341.stm

If only the muppets in charge of immigration were as zealous about deporting real illegal immigrants and failed asylum seekers. Is common sense not a part of the job description?

basmic · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:34

Only in Scotland, TBH.

Rathanes · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:35

Yet you supported the VC-winning Ghurka being kept out of the UK? :confused:

WhyohWhy · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:35

If only the muppets in charge of immigration were as zealous about deporting real illegal immigrants and failed asylum seekers. Is common sense not a part of the job description?

No,

This is why the statue of justice holds a sword, some scales and is blindfolded.

platypus · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:36

Whilst she should really have applied for citizenship, thats an absolutely ridiculous waste of time, money and effort that needs to be expended elsewhere.

dirtydog · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:39

Rathanes said:
Yet you supported the VC-winning Ghurka being kept out of the UK?

Erm spot the difference. This lady has lived here for 78 years and has a Scottish mother. The Ghurka has never lived here and does not have British parentage.

Alchemy · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:50

Quite right they are.

Digital Punk · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:52

It would seem they're kicking out an illegal to make way for the Ghurka.

I don't have a problem with that.

seaviewuk · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:53

There was a case like this a couple of years back.

It won't happen.

Yas786 · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:54

Sounds a bit silly if you ask me but then shes not very bright is she??...i mean coming over here at the age of 2 and not applying for british citizenship is quite simply silly tbh.

Sorry but she only has herself to blame for this...

Slinwagh · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:56

dirtydog said:
Erm spot the difference. This lady has lived here for 78 years and has a Scottish mother. The Ghurka has never lived here and does not have British parentage.

No but he did risk his life for Queen and Country.

dirtydog · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:56

Alchemy said:
Quite right they are.

seaviewuk said:
There was a case like this a couple of years back.

It won't happen.

I'm (quite) sure you're right but it should have all been sorted out quickly with a bit of common sense - why should law-abiding citizens have to suffer this nonsense, especially ones of advanced years where it could cause undue stress and worry, or worse.

Slinwagh · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:57

Spawn said:
Sounds a bit silly if you ask me but then shes not very bright is she??...i mean coming over here at the age of 2 and not applying for british citizenship is quite simply silly tbh.

Sorry but she only has herself to blame for this...

I take it that is tongue in cheek!

dirtydog · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:57

Spawn said:
Sounds a bit silly if you ask me but then shes not very bright is she??...i mean coming over here at the age of 2 and not applying for british citizenship is quite simply silly tbh.

Sorry but she only has herself to blame for this...

Perhaps her British mother didn't realise it was necessary. You certainly can't hold the two year old responsible for not doing it, I don't suppose two year olds are too up on immigration policy :rolleyes:

dirtydog · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:59

Slinwagh said:
No but he did risk his life for Queen and Country.

Don't get me started on that again

Seriously, don't please - at least not in this thread

If you want to revisit that debate (not that I want to) there is an existing thread on the topic which is better suited.

Kipper67 · 15 Jun 2007 at 14:59

platypus said:
Whilst she should really have applied for citizenship, thats an absolutely ridiculous waste of time, money and effort that needs to be expended elsewhere.

Does she need to though ? It says she has a scottish mother so I thought she had automatic British nationality .

Or is this something to do with americans not being able to hold 2 nationalties? In which case as she has obviously made her choice by choosing American nationality and having a US passport, why should she be treated any different to any other immigrant/temporary visitor to the UK ?

EDIT - I assume US passport regulations are somewhat similar to ours in that passports don't last forever so I would guess she would have had to re-apply for one within the last 10 or so years - if she wanted to be British its not like she's not had long enough to do something about it .

If she wants to be the national of a foreign country why should she be exempt from UK laws ?

Mr Nice · 15 Jun 2007 at 15:01

dirtydog said:
I'm (quite) sure you're right but it should have all been sorted out quickly with a bit of common sense - why should law-abiding citizens have to suffer this nonsense, especially ones of advanced years where it could cause undue stress and worry, or worse.

Indeed.

No doubt done some Scotch lickspittle jobsworth offical with nowt better to do.

Amleto · 15 Jun 2007 at 15:03

dirtydog said:
Perhaps her British mother didn't realise it was necessary. You certainly can't hold the two year old responsible for not doing it, I don't suppose two year olds are too up on immigration policy

whooooosh

platypus · 15 Jun 2007 at 15:04

Kipper67 said:
EDIT - I assume US passport regulations are somewhat similar to ours in that passports don't last forever so I would guess she would have had to re-apply for one within the last 10 or so years - if she wanted to be British its not like she's not had long enough to do something about it .

If she wants to be the national of a foreign country why should she be exempt from UK laws ?

I'm not sure about the US to be honest, since 9/11 their passport regulations have been changed so many times.

dirtydog · 15 Jun 2007 at 15:04

Amleto said:
whooooosh

You don't know Spawn... it's perfectly possible his comment was serious.