Community stands for elderly Sikh woman in UK to Prevent deportation

As the legal battle unfolds, the Smethwick community remains resolute in its support for Gurmit Kaur, underscoring the broader issue of compassionate immigration policies and the human impact of such decisions

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

Gurmit Kaur, a 78-year-old Indian Sikh woman, has been facing the threat of deportation from the UK since 2019, igniting a groundswell of support from the local community in Smethwick, West Midlands. The online petition initiated in July 2020 has garnered over 65,000 signatures, with the rallying cry “We Are All Gurmit Kaur” resonating across social media platforms.

Having arrived in the UK in 2009, Gurmit Kaur has called Smethwick her home ever since. The petition emphasizes her lack of familial support both in the UK and Punjab, making the local Sikh community her adopted family. Despite her application to stay being rejected, the community stands firm in its commitment to preventing her deportation.

The petition on change.org highlights Gurmit Kaur’s selfless nature, noting that despite her limited resources, she remains generous and actively volunteers at the local gurdwara. The plea emphasizes her vulnerability, given her advanced age and the absence of a support system.

The UK Home Office contends that Kaur could readjust to life in her village in Punjab, citing her connections there. However, the community, led by figures like Salman Mirza, an immigration advisor for the Brushstroke Community Project, strongly opposes her deportation. Mirza, who initiated the petition and is actively involved in Kaur’s visa appeals process, describes her ongoing ordeal as nothing short of torture.

As the legal battle unfolds, the Smethwick community remains resolute in its support for Gurmit Kaur, underscoring the broader issue of compassionate immigration policies and the human impact of such decisions.

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