‘I want to stay here’: Grandmother faces deportation after living in Australia for 40 years
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In a shocking turn of events, a grandmother who has called Australia home for over four decades is now facing deportation back to the United Kingdom, a country she no longer has any ties with.
This unexpected predicament has left her, her family, and her community in Northern New South Wales in a state of disbelief and distress.
Meet Mary Ellis, a 74-year-old ‘local hero’ who has been an integral part of her community for the past 40 years.
Ellis, originally from London, moved to Australia when she was just 31.
She was under the impression that she and her then-boyfriend had been granted permanent visas, a belief that shaped her life in Australia.
Ellis has since built a life in Australia, raising her son and two granddaughters and dedicating her time to volunteering with the Salvation Army and feeding the homeless in Tweed Heads.
Her selfless service to the community even earned her a nomination for the NSW Volunteer of the Year award in 2023.
Despite her contributions to Australian society, Ellis is now facing deportation due to a sudden decision by the Department of Home Affairs.
The department claimed that Ellis was never granted permanent residency, a fact that Ellis disputes, stating that she has always believed herself to be a permanent resident.
'I have a Driver's Licence, ID card, Medicare Card, and Pension card. Everything Australians have,' Ellis said.
'I thought, well, I'm a permanent resident. You know, I carry on doing my daily—what I do every day. Nobody said anything.'
‘This is my home, and I love Australia...I want to stay here,’ Ellis said while in tears.
‘Just let me get Australian citizenship, please let me...that's what I want.’
Ellis' case has sparked a wave of support, with migration agent Stanley Schneider offering his assistance pro bono.
Schneider argued that Ellis should be considered an absorbed person under the Migration Act 1958, given her long-standing presence in Australia and her clean record.
He said Home Affairs ‘suddenly’ decided Ellis had to leave the country.
‘They contacted Mary and asked her to go into the Brisbane office,’ he said.
‘And she went, and they told her that she shouldn't be in Australia.’
‘She's always paid her taxes…she's never even had a speeding ticket. She's never infringed anything. She's never offended anyone,’ Schneider added.
The Act stipulates that a person must have been in Australia since April 2, 1984, and not have left the country.
However, the Department of Home Affairs alleged that Ellis left the country three times under different aliases, a claim that Ellis vehemently denied.
‘I love Australia. I didn't want to go anywhere else,’ Ellis said.
Adding to the confusion, the department claims that Ellis's then-boyfriend, known to her as 'Martin Ellis', was actually 'Trevor Warren', who is now deceased.
Ellis disputed this, saying, ‘I'd say it's wrong. I came with Martin Ellis, my partner at the time, on a permanent visa.’
‘I wasn't really with him for all that long, you know, not very long. And then we went our separate ways.’
Ellis maintained that she has documents to prove her continuous presence in Australia, including a job reference from a Tasmanian restaurant and a Medicare enrolment letter signed by the then federal health minister.
Schneider argued that these documents would not have been issued if Ellis had not been in the country.
'Mary Ellis is a decent person. A person we should be absolutely thrilled to have in Australia,' Schneider said.
'And she's an Australian, Let's face it.'
The Department of Home Affairs, while not commenting on individual cases, stated that 'people who do not have the right to remain in Australia are expected to depart.'
‘Non-citizens are expected to comply with requirements to advise the Department of incorrect information and give correct answers in response to questions that may arise in visa applications, passenger cards, or in responses to notices issued by the Department,’ the spokesperson said.
You can watch A Current Affair’s coverage below:
Credit: A Current Affair / Youtube
What do you think about Mary Ellis’ situation? Have you or someone you know faced similar challenges? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
This unexpected predicament has left her, her family, and her community in Northern New South Wales in a state of disbelief and distress.
Meet Mary Ellis, a 74-year-old ‘local hero’ who has been an integral part of her community for the past 40 years.
Ellis, originally from London, moved to Australia when she was just 31.
She was under the impression that she and her then-boyfriend had been granted permanent visas, a belief that shaped her life in Australia.
Mary Ellis has lived in Australia for 40 years and has been volunteering ever since. Credit: A Current Affair / Youtube
Ellis has since built a life in Australia, raising her son and two granddaughters and dedicating her time to volunteering with the Salvation Army and feeding the homeless in Tweed Heads.
Her selfless service to the community even earned her a nomination for the NSW Volunteer of the Year award in 2023.
Despite her contributions to Australian society, Ellis is now facing deportation due to a sudden decision by the Department of Home Affairs.
The department claimed that Ellis was never granted permanent residency, a fact that Ellis disputes, stating that she has always believed herself to be a permanent resident.
'I have a Driver's Licence, ID card, Medicare Card, and Pension card. Everything Australians have,' Ellis said.
'I thought, well, I'm a permanent resident. You know, I carry on doing my daily—what I do every day. Nobody said anything.'
‘This is my home, and I love Australia...I want to stay here,’ Ellis said while in tears.
‘Just let me get Australian citizenship, please let me...that's what I want.’
Ellis' case has sparked a wave of support, with migration agent Stanley Schneider offering his assistance pro bono.
Schneider argued that Ellis should be considered an absorbed person under the Migration Act 1958, given her long-standing presence in Australia and her clean record.
He said Home Affairs ‘suddenly’ decided Ellis had to leave the country.
‘They contacted Mary and asked her to go into the Brisbane office,’ he said.
‘And she went, and they told her that she shouldn't be in Australia.’
‘She's always paid her taxes…she's never even had a speeding ticket. She's never infringed anything. She's never offended anyone,’ Schneider added.
The Act stipulates that a person must have been in Australia since April 2, 1984, and not have left the country.
However, the Department of Home Affairs alleged that Ellis left the country three times under different aliases, a claim that Ellis vehemently denied.
‘I love Australia. I didn't want to go anywhere else,’ Ellis said.
Adding to the confusion, the department claims that Ellis's then-boyfriend, known to her as 'Martin Ellis', was actually 'Trevor Warren', who is now deceased.
Ellis disputed this, saying, ‘I'd say it's wrong. I came with Martin Ellis, my partner at the time, on a permanent visa.’
‘I wasn't really with him for all that long, you know, not very long. And then we went our separate ways.’
Ellis maintained that she has documents to prove her continuous presence in Australia, including a job reference from a Tasmanian restaurant and a Medicare enrolment letter signed by the then federal health minister.
Schneider argued that these documents would not have been issued if Ellis had not been in the country.
'Mary Ellis is a decent person. A person we should be absolutely thrilled to have in Australia,' Schneider said.
'And she's an Australian, Let's face it.'
The Department of Home Affairs, while not commenting on individual cases, stated that 'people who do not have the right to remain in Australia are expected to depart.'
‘Non-citizens are expected to comply with requirements to advise the Department of incorrect information and give correct answers in response to questions that may arise in visa applications, passenger cards, or in responses to notices issued by the Department,’ the spokesperson said.
You can watch A Current Affair’s coverage below:
Credit: A Current Affair / Youtube
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