A Western Australian grandfather who lived in Australia for 43 years has been deported to the UK after a last-minute appeal against the cancellation of his visa was rejected.
Stephen Pokrywka, who was sentenced to six years in prison in 2019 for attempted supply of methylamphetamine, was not allowed to see his family in person before he was deported on Wednesday.
In February, a parole board recommended that he be released from prison. However, Pokrywka is not an Australian citizen and his visa was revoked because he had been convicted of an offence punishable by more than 12 months.
If he had applied for Australian citizenship at any time during his adult life, he could have avoided being deported upon his release.
Pokrywka was sent to Yongah Hill detention centre in Northam, 95km northwest of Perth, where he appealed against a deportation order he had received early in his prison sentence.
The father of six and grandfather of 10 had lived in Australia since he was 12 and said he had no ties to the UK and simply had not considered applying for Australian citizenship.
Pokrywka, 55, attempted a hasty appeal on Tuesday, asking the Federal Court to allow him to remain in Australia to care for his 12-year-old daughter. However, his appeal was rejected.
“I went straight from the court hearing to visiting my 12-year-old daughter and I just couldn’t contain the emotions, I was just completely devastated,” he told the ABC.
Western Australian grandfather Stephen Pokrywka (pictured), who lived in Australia for 43 years, has been deported to the UK after a last-minute appeal against the cancellation of his visa was rejected.
‘What I feel now and the pain and fear I heard from my family when I told them… I wouldn’t wish that on even my worst enemy.
“I thought common sense would prevail.”
Pokrywka visited Britain only once after leaving as a child, worried about life there and the need to find somewhere to live and work.
His first week’s stay in the UK is paid for by the Australian government.
“But after that there is nothing concrete anymore,” Pokrywka said.
His daughter Jess, 21, says the whole family is being punished by her father, who she calls “a very responsible man”, being sent back to the UK.
“Not only is he sad because he was deported, but he is also focused on his family and he wants to take care of his parents and his family,” she said.
Jess said the government should ‘ensure our families stay together rather than tearing them apart’.
The father of six and grandfather of 10 had lived in Australia since he was 12 and said he had no ties to the UK and simply hadn’t thought about applying for Australian citizenship. Pokrywka is pictured left with family members
“I don’t think it’s fair, especially to my 12-year-old sister, not to have a father. It’s like your parents are dead and they’re still alive,” she said.
According to lawyer Gerry Georgatos, such cases are on the rise. Since the Migration Act was changed under the previous coalition government, more than 1,000 people are removed from Australia each year.
Mr Georgatos argued that the government should not deport people “who have family ties in this country, people who have lived here all their lives”.
“It has become a way to buy votes, to crack down on people and crime,” he said.