Despite the turnaround, campaigners say the Santos’ case illustrates wider problems with NZ’s treatment of migrants
The turnaround in the Santos’ case came after news of their deportation prompted outrage around New Zealand. Max Harris, a Rhodes scholar and left-wing writer, said that when he read about the situation on Thursday he immediately knew it was “unduly harsh” since “the family couldn’t pay rent, couldn’t receive the wage subsidy or the income relief payment and in the Philippines hospitals have been overwhelmed by Covid.
Harris and others began organising a social media campaign encouraging people to write to immigration minister Kris Faafoi urging him to exercise discretion and allow the Santos family to stay. Hundreds of people did so. Jeffrey’s previous appeals had won support from Menéndez March, a former anti-poverty activist, and advocacy group Migrante Aotearoa. But the appeals failed after Immigration New Zealand decided the family did not have “exceptional humanitarian circumstances”.By Thursday Santos had exhausted his normal rights of appeal. But on Friday, under significant public pressure, associate immigration minister Phil Twyford – who initially refused Santos’ appeal – intervened.
Although he is relieved the Santos family won’t be deported, Menéndez March says their case illustrates wider difficulties with New Zealand’s treatment of migrant workers. “What Jeffrey and his family went through was a direct result of government decisions which meant that migrant workers didn’t have adequate income support systems during an incredibly challenging time … Santos did what I think many parents would have done, which is to find any avenue possible to feed your child.
“At all stages of the way, we’ve chosen not to support migrant communities. This decision illustrates those systemic failures. While I’m elated about the individual outcome, I hope this serves as a call to action for government to address those barriers for migrants so they have access to a life with dignity.”
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