New Zealand Teen Faces Deportation After Residency Denied

An 18-year-old New Zealand-born teenager, Navjot Singh, is facing deportation to India after his appeal for residency was denied. Born in Auckland in 2007, Singh has never left New Zealand and has lived without legal status since his parents overstayed their work visas. The recent decision by Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk has raised significant concerns regarding the rights of children born to parents without legal residency.

Singh’s situation is particularly distressing, as he is now stateless and at risk of being sent to a country he has never known. His case echoes that of Daman Kumar, another overstayer who secured residency through ministerial intervention earlier this year. Kumar, who spent nearly two decades in New Zealand without appropriate documentation, criticized the government’s treatment of Singh as “totally unfair.”

Legal Challenges and Citizenship Issues

The Citizenship Amendment Act 2006 ended the automatic citizenship rights for children born to non-resident parents, which has left many young people in New Zealand, like Singh, in a precarious legal position. This law has effectively created a generation of children unable to access fundamental rights such as education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.

Singh became aware of his undocumented status at the age of eight when he questioned his mother about his inability to attend school. “Ever since, I’ve been living in fear. I couldn’t even be honest with my friends,” he remarked. Singh’s father was deported to India when he was just five days old, and his mother lost her visa in 2012, leaving the family in a vulnerable situation.

“I don’t think I’ll survive in India,” Singh expressed. “I don’t speak Hindi. I’ve heard even people with higher qualifications struggle to find jobs, what would I do?” His concerns highlight the challenges faced by individuals who have never lived in their supposed country of origin.

Calls for Legal Reform

Immigration lawyer Alastair McClymont, who represents Singh, has condemned the decision to deny residency. He described it as “inhumane” and urged New Zealand to reform its immigration policies to align more closely with those of countries like Australia and the United Kingdom, where children automatically qualify for citizenship after residing in the country for ten years.

“Once a child has lived here from birth for a decade, they should be eligible for citizenship,” McClymont stated. “Deporting kids who have grown up here to a foreign country is incredibly cruel.” He argued that the current legal framework is illogical for children like Singh, who cannot feasibly appeal to the Immigration Protection Tribunal within 42 days of birth.

In light of these challenges, Singh remains hopeful for a future in New Zealand. “I just want to live a normal life,” he said quietly. “That’s the dream. If you were in my place, what would you do?” His story reflects the broader issue of immigration policy and the rights of children born in the country to undocumented parents, a topic that continues to provoke discussions across New Zealand.