75-year-old's plea to stay in Australia is met with an unbelievable demand—find out why
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A long-time resident facing an unexpected twist in her battle to stay in Australia has found herself confronted with a decision she never anticipated.
What seemed like a routine request has turned into a stunning challenge that has left many questioning the fairness of immigration policies.
The situation that has unfolded is raising eyebrows, and the outcome could have far-reaching implications.
Mary Ellis, 75, found herself caught in a battle with Australian migration officials after 40 years of calling the country home.
Despite her ongoing plea for a bridging visa to avoid being deported in handcuffs, she faced an unexpected hurdle.
Officials insisted she uses her married name, Mary McHugo, a name she had not used for almost 50 years.
Ms Ellis was married to Sean McHugo in 1968, but their relationship ended, and she later took on the surname Ellis after marrying Martin Ellis.
Now, migration officials demanded she return to using the name McHugo, despite it being long abandoned.
Her migration agent, Stanley Shneider, expressed disbelief at the request, calling it ‘absurd’.
‘She has for 45 or so years used the surname Ellis, quite legally and properly,’ he said.
Ms Ellis has applied for 35 bridging visas, each one a three-month extension to avoid the looming threat of deportation.
Her case has drawn wide attention, particularly after her first appearance on television last year, pleading for Home Affairs to allow her to stay.
She claimed she had never left Australia since arriving in 1981.
However, accusations surfaced suggesting she had left the country under an alias in the mid-80s, which disqualified her from ‘absorbed’ citizenship.
Despite these allegations, Ms Ellis maintains she has lived in Australia legally and has deep ties to the country, including a 30-year career in hospitality and as a government worker.
Her daughter, Angela, expressed her frustration with the situation, recalling how she had left Australia as a teenager and had not seen her mother since she was 17.
‘Mum and Trevor went over to Australia first as a test run. Then we all went out as a family,’ Angela said.
Ms Ellis’ former husband, Sean McHugo, remarried in 1988 and passed away 20 years later.
Ms Ellis was told by immigration officials that she had been living illegally in Australia, which she was shocked to learn.
‘I thought well, I’m a permanent resident. You know, I carry on doing what I do every day,’ she said.
Ms Ellis had no idea her residency status was in question until she visited the Brisbane office of the Home Affairs department.
While authorities have insisted she use her married name McHugo for her visa applications, Ms Ellis and her agent argue this requirement is unnecessary.
Shneider emphasized that under the Migration Act, the minister’s intervention powers are limited, making her situation even more complicated.
Ms Ellis has become a well-loved figure in her community due to her volunteer work with The Salvation Army and her career in home care.
Despite her long history of contributing to Australian society, Ms Ellis faces constant anxiety as her visa applications are repeatedly denied.
Her case has sparked an outpouring of support on social media, with many Australians rallying behind her.
One social media user commented: ‘For goodness sake this is outrage, she so deserves to stay. The Immigration Minister needs to fix this!’
While some have questioned the allegations about Ms Ellis leaving Australia, her agent maintains his client’s version of events.
Shneider noted that she had not applied for an ‘absorbed person’ visa, as the Migration Act only grants that status to those who meet certain criteria automatically.
The government, however, remained firm, explaining that the minister could only intervene in narrow circumstances, such as if a visa is refused or a tribunal’s decision is appealed.
Support for Ms Ellis continues to grow, with many Australians frustrated by what they see as an unjust application of migration laws.
Her story has sparked a larger conversation about the complexities of immigration policies and the human cost of bureaucratic decisions.
Learn more about her story by watching the video below.
Should decades of contribution to the country be enough to grant someone permanent residency? Are the rules too rigid?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
What seemed like a routine request has turned into a stunning challenge that has left many questioning the fairness of immigration policies.
The situation that has unfolded is raising eyebrows, and the outcome could have far-reaching implications.
Mary Ellis, 75, found herself caught in a battle with Australian migration officials after 40 years of calling the country home.
Despite her ongoing plea for a bridging visa to avoid being deported in handcuffs, she faced an unexpected hurdle.
Officials insisted she uses her married name, Mary McHugo, a name she had not used for almost 50 years.
Grandmother's fight against unexpected immigration hurdles continues. Image Source: Youtube/A Current Affair
Ms Ellis was married to Sean McHugo in 1968, but their relationship ended, and she later took on the surname Ellis after marrying Martin Ellis.
Now, migration officials demanded she return to using the name McHugo, despite it being long abandoned.
Her migration agent, Stanley Shneider, expressed disbelief at the request, calling it ‘absurd’.
‘She has for 45 or so years used the surname Ellis, quite legally and properly,’ he said.
Ms Ellis has applied for 35 bridging visas, each one a three-month extension to avoid the looming threat of deportation.
Her case has drawn wide attention, particularly after her first appearance on television last year, pleading for Home Affairs to allow her to stay.
She claimed she had never left Australia since arriving in 1981.
However, accusations surfaced suggesting she had left the country under an alias in the mid-80s, which disqualified her from ‘absorbed’ citizenship.
Despite these allegations, Ms Ellis maintains she has lived in Australia legally and has deep ties to the country, including a 30-year career in hospitality and as a government worker.
Her daughter, Angela, expressed her frustration with the situation, recalling how she had left Australia as a teenager and had not seen her mother since she was 17.
‘Mum and Trevor went over to Australia first as a test run. Then we all went out as a family,’ Angela said.
Ms Ellis’ former husband, Sean McHugo, remarried in 1988 and passed away 20 years later.
Ms Ellis was told by immigration officials that she had been living illegally in Australia, which she was shocked to learn.
‘I thought well, I’m a permanent resident. You know, I carry on doing what I do every day,’ she said.
Ms Ellis had no idea her residency status was in question until she visited the Brisbane office of the Home Affairs department.
While authorities have insisted she use her married name McHugo for her visa applications, Ms Ellis and her agent argue this requirement is unnecessary.
Shneider emphasized that under the Migration Act, the minister’s intervention powers are limited, making her situation even more complicated.
Ms Ellis has become a well-loved figure in her community due to her volunteer work with The Salvation Army and her career in home care.
Despite her long history of contributing to Australian society, Ms Ellis faces constant anxiety as her visa applications are repeatedly denied.
Her case has sparked an outpouring of support on social media, with many Australians rallying behind her.
One social media user commented: ‘For goodness sake this is outrage, she so deserves to stay. The Immigration Minister needs to fix this!’
While some have questioned the allegations about Ms Ellis leaving Australia, her agent maintains his client’s version of events.
Shneider noted that she had not applied for an ‘absorbed person’ visa, as the Migration Act only grants that status to those who meet certain criteria automatically.
The government, however, remained firm, explaining that the minister could only intervene in narrow circumstances, such as if a visa is refused or a tribunal’s decision is appealed.
Support for Ms Ellis continues to grow, with many Australians frustrated by what they see as an unjust application of migration laws.
Her story has sparked a larger conversation about the complexities of immigration policies and the human cost of bureaucratic decisions.
Learn more about her story by watching the video below.
Should decades of contribution to the country be enough to grant someone permanent residency? Are the rules too rigid?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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