According to new reports from New Zealand, a sick New Zealander, Sanil Kumar, who is on a migrant visa and has a health condition requiring kidney transplantation could be deported, because of an immigration department’s conclusion regarding his case. As per the Immigration department, it has been decided that if Sanil Kumar does not go back to his home country (Fiji) on his own, by tomorrow, he would not be able to re-enter New Zealand for the crucial transplantation operation. This conclusion has been reached by the immigration department in his case because a labour market test conducted by the department showed that there were now New Zealanders available that could fit (or, were skilled to do) his job as a metal tradesman.
As per these reports, Sanil Kumar's visa was not renewed in July. And, he had been given a 28-day deadline to leave New Zealand, which in the normal course would expire tomorrow. But, Sanil Kumar is undergoing treatment and dialysis in New Zealand and he has relatives in the country at present. According to the Labour party’s spokesman (this party has taken up his case), any decision to deport Mr. Kumar would be deemed extremely harsh and ‘heartless’, as one of his family members was ready and found suitable to donate a kidney to him and his relatives were also raising the funds required for his transplant operation. The labour party spokesman also stated that Mr. Sanil was also not seeking funds or assistance from the government and all that that was required from the government was a grace period of ‘extension of his visa period’, so as to allow him to get to continue his treatment.
Immigration department has been taking the stand that Mr. Kumar had already incurred costs amounting to $30,000 and that if he was not able to raise more funds, and instead became dependent on New Zealand’s public health facilities system, it would be an unacceptable situation to the government and the department. Labour party spokesman Mr. Prasad termed it as a ‘life and death situation’ of a person and that the case should be considered on humanitarian grounds, but the Immigration department has so far stood by its decision in the case by stating that Fiji, the native country of Mr. Kumar, does have dialysis facilities and he could use them until the time he raised sufficient funds and returned to New Zealand on a temporary visa for his transplant operation.
