A CHILD raised in Wagga and enrolled at Ashmont Public School will soon be exiled from the country along with her Kenyan mother due to a visa debacle.
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Angela Aseka will be forced to resign from her job at the Loreto Home of Compassion when she and her seven-year-old daughter Esperanca are both deported by the Immigration Department
Ms Aseka – whose husband “walked away” when Esperanca was born – is living in fear knowing she will soon be banished from the country.
She has pleaded with the government to allow her to stay on a working visa.
“I wish they would spare a thought for the innocent citizen who was born here but her father walked away.
“She’s made friends and settled into her life here and it wouldn’t be fair to rob her of that.”
The Kenya native arrived in Australia in 2003 with a study visa to take a nursing course at the Canberra Institute of Technology.
Due to language barriers, Ms Aseka had difficulty with her coursework and failed multiple units – dragging her studies out several more years than planned.
She later became an assistant in nursing in Wagga, but also garnered the government’s attention when her educational visa expired.
“I’m working and I’m not receiving any benefits so I don’t see why I can’t stay,” she said.
“Surely there is something that can be considered to get us permanent residency.”
The migrant believes she should be allowed to stay given her over-a-decade of contribution to the country.
While the Department of Immigration and Border Protection declined to address the specific circumstances of Ms Aseka’s situation, it clarified that all non-citizens must comply with their visa conditions.
“People who are unsuccessful in their request for Ministerial Intervention, have no ongoing matters before an appeals tribunal and do not have other matters before the Department, are expected to depart Australia,” a spokesperson said.
“It would be inappropriate to confirm further details regarding individual circumstances relating to this case.
“All non-citizens in Australia must meet, and continue to meet, their visa conditions.”
The Kenyan migrant claims she has reached out to all government bodies and agencies, but was told there is nothing she can do.
