- Home
- Dad...
Dad lived in Australia 43 years deported to country he hardly knows
- Drug conviction led to man's deportation
- His last-minute visa appeal was rejected
- READ MORE: Grandmother fights deportation from Australia
A WA grandfather who spent 43 years living in Australia has been deported to the UK after a last-minute appeal against his visa cancellation was rejected.
Stephen Pokrywka, who was sentenced to six years in jail in 2019 for attempting to supply methylamphetamine, was not allowed to see his family in person before being deported on Wednesday.
In February, a parole board recommended he be released from jail, however Pokrywka isn't an Australian citizen and had his visa cancelled because he had been convicted of a crime that carried a sentence of more than 12 months.
Pokrywka was sent to Yongah Hill Detention Centre in Northam, 95km north-west of Perth, where he appealed the deportation order he got early in his prison sentence.
The father-of-six and grandfather of 10 had lived in Australia since he was 12 and said he had no ties to the UK and had just not thought to apply for Australian citizenship.
In a last ditch appeal on Tuesday, Pokrywka, 55, asked the federal court to be allowed stay in Australia to care for his 12-year-old daughter, but his appeal was rejected.
'I went straight from the court hearing… into a visit with my 12-year-old daughter and I just couldn't hold back the emotions, I was just absolutely gutted,' he told the ABC.
'What I'm feeling right now and the hurt and anguish I heard from my family when I told them… I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.
'I thought common sense would prevail.'
Pokrywka visited Britain just once after he left as a child, and was concerned about the life now facing him there, needing to find somewhere to live and a job.
His first week of accommodation in the UK will be paid by the Australian government.
'But after that, nothing's in concrete,' Pokrywka said.
His daughter Jess, 21, said the whole family is being punished by her father - who she said is 'a very responsible man' - being sent back to the UK.
'Not only is he sad because of being deported, but he's family orientated and he wants to look after his parents, look after his family,' she said.
Jess said the government 'should be trying to keep our families together instead of breaking them apart'.
'I don't think that it's fair, especially on my 12-year-old sister, to miss out on having a dad. It's like your parent has passed away, and they're alive,' she said.
Advocate Gerry Georgatos said cases such as this were on the rise, with more than 1,000 people removed from Australia each year after the Migration Act was amended under the last Coalition government.
Mr Georgatos argued the government should not be deporting those 'with family ties in this country, people who have lived their whole lives here'.
'It's become a vote buying exercise, to go tough on people, tough on crime,' he said.
Read more- https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/dad-lived-in-australia-43-years-deported-to-country-he-hardly-knows/ar-BB1pnd6Q?ocid=00000000
Related
'Lioness' actor Mike Heslin passes away at 30
Washington [US], July 6 (ANI): Actor Mike Heslin, who was known for having appeared in the TV show 'Lioness' and the movie, 'The Holiday Proposal Plan', has passed away. He was 30, according to The Hollywood Reporter.His husband, Scotty Dynamo shared the unfortunate news on his Instagram handle. "Michael was young, in perfect health, and the doctors have no explanation for what happened," he wrote.Heslin played Polo on two episodes of 'Lioness'...
NewsWorld Championship of Legends sold out for upcoming India vs Pakistan Champions
Edgbaston [Birmingham], July 6 (ANI): All 23000 seats at the venue of the highly anticipated World Championship of Legends match between India and Pakistan champions at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, England on Saturday have been sold out as anticipation runs high among fans.Approved by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the World Championship of Legends that got underway at Edgbaston on July 3 will run through July 18, as...
NewsCopa America 2024: Argentina’s semi-final opponents confirmed
Argentina will play Canada in the semi-final of this year’s Copa America. This follows Jesse Marsch’s men penalty shoot-out win over Venezuela on Friday night. The game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes of football and there was no extra time. With the teams all square after five attempts each, Wilker Ángel had his spot-kick saved by Maxime Crepeau, Ismae...
NewsThrough the Years – Rosamund Pike
Ever since she starred as a Bond Girl in the 007 movie ‘Die Another Day’ and stunned in this daring silver dress at its Royal Premiere, we’ve had our fashion radar trained on Miss Rosamund Pike.
NewsOrban's Controversial Moscow Visit:Putin's Conditions to Halt Russia-Ukraine War Spark Global Outcry
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's unexpected visit to Moscow has ignited fury among Kiev and its Western allies. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine publicly condemned Orban's talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the Ukraine conflict, calling for unity and firmness against Russian aggression. European leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen, emphasize that appeasement is not the answer to Putin's demands. Meanwhile, Putin's post-talks announcement adds complexity to the ongoing geopolitical tensions. Explore the fallout and reactions in this detailed update.#Russia #UkraineConflict #Putin #ViktorOrban #NATO #VladimirPutin #RussiaUkraineWar #HungaryPM #RussiaUkraineCeasefire
NewsUK's Starmer says Rwanda deportation plan 'dead and buried'
New British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is scrapping the Rwanda deportation plan by the previous Conservative government, saying its policy to keep irregular migration at bay has had the "complete opposite effect."
NewsEuro 2024: He misses goal, cries like baby – Football legend on Ronaldo
Indian football legend, Sunil Chhetri has reacted to Cristiano Ronaldo’s extra-time penalty miss against Slovenia in the Euro 2024 Round of 16. Portugal finally won 3-0 on penalty shootout to go through. During the game, Ronaldo squandered a couple of chances, including when he stepped up for a penalty just before half-time in extra time, which he ...
NewsEuro 2024: Julian Nagelsmann predicts country to 2026 World Cup
Germany head coach, Julian Nagelsmann has predicted that his team would go all out to win the 2026 World Cup. The coach said it hurts him more the fact that Germany will have to wait two more years to become world champions. He said this following Germany’s elimination from Euro 2024 in the hands of Spain. Germany bowed out of the competition follo...
News