Deportation family clings to last hope

A Hastings Indian family facing deportation with their three New Zealand-born children has been handed an 11th hour reprieve from local MP Craig Foss.
While a decision was made by immigration officials to deport Usha Rani, her husband Sital Ram Mall and their three children last week, the Ministry of Immigration told Hawke's Bay Today an intervention letter from Mr Foss had been received and Minister Kate Wilkinson would now review the decision.
The couple, who have been in New Zealand for 11 years, have been overstayers since their permit expired in 2003.
Their three children, Hemani Mall, 10, and 6-year-old twins Gaurav Mall and Gagan Malla, are New Zealand citizens and have the right to stay, but Mrs Rani said she could not bear to leave the children behind.
The Mall children were born before a 2006 law change which required babies born here to have at least one New Zealand-citizen parent to become citizens.
Two weeks ago a removal order was issued for the couple, and Mr Mall taken into custody.
Supporter Julie O'Shea said Mrs Rani collapsed at home after hearing of the initial order yesterday, and was unable to make any comment.
Supporters have said the family would be forced to live in squalor in India, as they come from the "untouchable" caste. If deported, they would live with relatives in a village in the Punjab, sharing a house with no sanitation or cooking facilities with two other families.
The children had absorbed New Zealand's way of life and would not be able to afford the same schooling or healthcare in India, Ms O'Shea said. She said the decision had not yet sunk in with the children, but they were upset at not having been able to see their father since he had been in prison.
Daughter Hemani said she wanted to stay in New Zealand. "There's heaps of food here and money. There's no bad stuff here," she said.
She said she enjoyed playing tag with her friends on her Parkvale School field.
When asked if she had the choice between New Zealand or her parents her choice was clear.
"I just want to stay with my mum and dad."
Tukituki MP Craig Foss confirmed he had requested the Minister to revisit the family's dilemma. "After the family visited my office last week I wrote to the Minister asking her to have another look at their situation. I understand she has pulled in all the relevant information needed to reassess the situation."
A Government spokesperson could not confirm when the Minister would make her decision.