A WOMAN has urged the public to support an appeal to prevent her nephew from being deported.

Devin Hartley 22, who lives in Oldham and has lived in England since he was four years old, may be forced to leave the country by the Home Office after he failed to register for British citizenship.

His aunty Zoe Holmes, 46, who lives in Dunderdale Avenue, Nelson, has been rallying public support to allow him to stay in the country.

Heywood and Middleton MP Liz McInnes yesterday spoke to the South African Consulate to look for clarification on Devin’s status.

Zoe, who was born in South Africa but registered a British citizen at birth, said: “The biggest issue at the moment is that he might be stateless because he is not registered as a South African citizen.

“He is only 22-years-old and the poor boy has been shoved from pillar to post.

“It’s not fair to put this type of pressure on someone who wants to work and stay in this country.

“He is not asking for money or to live on benefits. He wants to make a living himself.”

More than 6,000 people have signed a petition in support of Devin’s case, including Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson and Pendle Cllr Jennifer Purcell.

Devin’s family have also sent a letter to the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, in attempt to secure his right to stay in the country.

The family needs to raise £1,600 for an application to ‘leave to remain’ if Devin is declared a South African citizen.

A leave to remain (ILR) is an immigration status granted to a person who does not hold the right of abode in the United Kingdom, but who has been admitted to the UK without any time limit on his or her stay and who is free to take up employment or study, without restriction.

Kate Metcalfe, a former Barnoldswick councillor who has been in touch with the family, said: “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous. Devin has been in England since he was four years old.

“He has worked all his life in this country, earned his keep and paid everything his due.

“There are people in this country who do not work go to university or do not pay for anything and allowed to stay here. It’s just wrong.”

Martin Bond, an immigration adviser to Devin, said these types of incidents aren’t rare at all.

He said: “Issues surrounding dual citizenship and status have sadly become more and more common after Brexit.”