New Zealand Teen Faces Deportation to Unknown Future in India

An 18-year-old New Zealand-born teenager is facing imminent deportation to India after his appeal for residency was denied. Navjot Singh, who has never left New Zealand, learned last week that his plea for ministerial intervention was declined by Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk. This decision has sparked renewed discussions about the rights of children born to parents who overstayed their visas.

Born in Auckland in 2007, Singh has lived his entire life in New Zealand without legal status due to his parents’ visa issues. His father was deported to India when Singh was just five days old, while his mother lost her visa in 2012, leaving the family without any legal standing in the country.

Singh’s case closely resembles that of Daman Kumar, another overstayer who was granted residency through ministerial intervention earlier this year. Kumar, who spent nearly two decades in New Zealand without a valid visa, expressed strong disapproval of the government’s handling of Singh’s situation, calling it “totally unfair.”

New Zealand’s Citizenship Amendment Act 2006 removed the automatic citizenship rights for children born to non-resident parents. Since the enactment of this law, many children like Singh have grown up in a state of legal limbo, lacking access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and employment. Singh recounted that he discovered his undocumented status at the age of eight, after questioning 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,” Singh shared. His situation highlights the challenges faced by children who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in precarious legal circumstances.

Singh articulated his fears about potential deportation, stating, “I don’t think I’ll survive in India. I don’t speak Hindi. I’ve heard even people with higher qualifications struggle to find jobs; what would I do?” His concerns underline the difficulties he would face in a country he has never known.

Immigration lawyer Alastair McClymont, who represents Singh, criticized the government’s decision as “inhumane.” He argued that New Zealand should reform its immigration laws to align more closely with those of countries like Australia and the United Kingdom, where children automatically qualify for citizenship after residing there for a decade. McClymont emphasized, “Once a child has lived here from birth for a decade, they should be eligible for citizenship. Deporting kids who have grown up here to a foreign country is incredibly cruel.”

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Singh remains hopeful. “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 plea encapsulates the struggles faced by many young people caught in similar situations, echoing the urgent need for policy reform regarding the citizenship rights of children born to overstayers in New Zealand.

As the debate continues, Singh’s case serves as a poignant reminder of the real human impact of immigration laws and the pressing need for a more compassionate approach to those who have known no other home but New Zealand.