Thread by @krishnaomkar

@sajidjavid I am a UK permanent resident (indefinite leave to remain). My mother visiting from India has just been held at LHR because she is here "too often". She has NEVER exceeded her 180 day allowance. Why is she being targeted? @DavidLammy @hammersmithandy

She has been told that they may send her back from the UK border because she wants to visit me, her only son and family. Apparently that is "suspicious" as she is an elderly woman. On what basis is she being held at the UK border? She has never been refused entry anywhere before

I repeat - she has NEVER been refused entry anywhere. She is visiting me, her only child and family, as I live here in the UK as a permanent resident, with indefinite leave. She visits me but has never in 10+ years exceeded her 180 day allowance

The last time she came to the UK she was asked by the immigration officer why she was divorced and why she hadn't remarried.

Why is she being targeted in this way all of a sudden?

She has held valid visas for the UK for 10+ years and her visa was recently renewed in May 2018 for 5 years. I fail to understand why she is being treated in this way. I am a tax-paying permanent resident and I can't even have my only family member visit me?

I repeat, I am a tax-paying permanent resident and my only family member, my 65 year old mother, is being held at the border because UKBA say the fact that she is visiting me is suspicious? Why? @sajidjavid @DavidLammy @hammersmithandy @mcashmanCBE

She is diabetic and has now been held at LHR immigration without access to food or water for 90+ minutes.

@sajidjavid @DavidLammy @mcashmanCBE @hammersmithandy My mother was told by the "Chief Immigration Officer" at LHR T3 that she should "stay away from the UK" notwithstanding she has a multiple-entry 5 year visa

@sajidjavid @DavidLammy @hammersmithandy @mcashmanCBE She was told that "too many Indian and Chinese parents" come to visit their children here.

@sajidjavid @DavidLammy @mcashmanCBE @hammersmithandy My mother was told that the next time she comes to the UK to visit me her visa might be cancelled - "Don't think we are just immigration officers, we can also cancel visas". FOR WHAT REASON?

When my Mum told the immigration officer that she might travel to the US and India and come back to the UK, was told "This one time I am letting you in... if you come back again you will be questioned and your visa might be cancelled",

"I am giving you the advice not to come back".

My mother was asked why she needed to visit me (her only child who lives and works in the UK with indefinite leave), why I wasn't married and why she lived alone in India.

I repeat. I have lived in the UK for 13 years. I have indefinite leave. I work as a lawyer. My mother lives alone in India and visits me a few times a year. Never exceeding her 180-day rolling allowance. She has a multiple-entry visa. And she was threatened at the UK border today

I repeat. I have lived in the UK for 13 years. I have indefinite leave. I work as a lawyer. My mother lives alone in India and visits me a few times a year. Never exceeding her 180-day rolling allowance. She has a multiple-entry visa. And she was threatened at the UK border

"Too many Chinese and Indian Parents" come to visit their children [who legally live and work in the UK]. This is what my mother was told at the UK Border at LHR T3 today by the "Chief Immigration Officer".

"Too many Indian and Chinese parents" come to visit their children [who by the way are living and working and paying taxes here].

"Don't you understand our immigration problem... why do you need to come here"

My mother was asked "Why don't you go back to your country". When she said she is resident in India, lives in India and only visits the UK (to see her only family member, me, who lives and works here), my mother was asked why she needed to do that.

She was told her visa would be cancelled the next time she tried to come to the UK, even if she was within her rights and even if she hadn't exceeded her allowance under her multiple entry visa. She was advised to "stay away from the UK".

Let that sink in.

My mother is a strong, articulate, independent woman with a PhD. She was able to deal with the hostility with calmness and grace, and most importantly, reason with the immigration officer. Imagine what happens to those who can't.

As an update - my mother is fine and she was let through “this time” but apparently the “Chief Immigration Officer” thinks there are too many Indian and Chinese people in the UK and seems to threaten visa cancellation without valid cause