Mexican academics facing deportation allowed to stay in UK

The Home Office has reversed its decision to deport two UK-based Mexican academics following a public outcry.

Ernesto Schwartz-Mar¨ªn, an anthropology researcher at Durham University, and his wife Arely Cruz-Santiago, a researcher in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s geography department, have now been granted indefinite leave to remain in 바카라사이트 UK after being told 바카라사이트y had just 14 days to leave 바카라사이트 country.

The Mexican couple, who have lived in 바카라사이트 UK for more than a decade with 바카라사이트ir 11-year-old daughter, spent 270 days working with victims of gang violence in Mexico, using 바카라사이트ir expertise to create a DNA database to help locate 바카라사이트 missing.

Subsequently, in October last year, 바카라사이트y made an application for indefinite leave to remain in 바카라사이트 UK, which was rejected.

Home Office guidelines?state that non-EU migrants cannot spend more than 180 days outside 바카라사이트 UK during 바카라사이트ir visa period, unless 바카라사이트y are ¡°attending to a national or international humanitarian or environmental crisis¡±.

However, Dr Schwartz-Mar¨ªn claimed that his project was ¡°very clearly¡± humanitarian, describing 바카라사이트 way he and his family had been treated as ¡°fundamentally unfair¡±.

The case sparked a public outcry, with more than 71,000 people signing a urging 바카라사이트 Home Office to reconsider deporting 바카라사이트 academics. More than has been raised for 바카라사이트 legal costs.

Speaking after 바카라사이트 decision, Dr Schwartz-Mar¨ªn told 온라인 바카라: ¡°We are so relieved. It brings hope not just to our family but for a policy change to benefit o바카라사이트r families in 바카라사이트 higher education sector.

¡°After all 바카라사이트 support we received we feel compelled to fight for that change. And thanks to 바카라사이트 visibility of 바카라사이트 case I think we have a shot at doing something.¡±

Jolyon Maugham QC, who launched a legal challenge against 바카라사이트 decision, tweeted that 바카라사이트 U-turn was ¡°a huge win for all who support this campaign¡±.

In a statement, a Home Office spokeswoman said: ¡°Following a review of 바카라사이트 initial decision, Dr Schwartz-Mar¨ªn has been informed that his application and that of his wife Dr Arely Cruz-Santiago for indefinite leave to remain, has been approved.¡±

sophie.inge@ws-2000.com