The Tory Government is set to deport a Chinese Scot who has devoted years of his life to helping his community. Matthew Jun Fei Freeman has been in the UK for 20 years and has nowhere to go in China.
During the 11 years he has spent in Moray, Matt has helped countless locals struggling with mental health issues and thrown himself into charitable work. Now he has been told he will be jailed and then deported if he refuses to leave the country willingly in September.
A professor in China, Matt’s caring work has led to a full-time post as student association vice-president at the University of the Highlands and Islands. He is desperate to remain in Lossiemouth.
Community councillor Carolle Ralph has worked on mental health community support projects with Matt. She said: “We are desperately sad for Matt. Scotland is his home and we’ll do whatever we can to support him. Matt’s made a really significant contribution, helping many people with problems in our community, yet he is reluctant to ask for help himself.”
Matt was born and raised in China, an only child whose parents are dead. He said: “I’m proud of my Chinese roots but have no one and no home to go to. I’m proud of my Scots home and love this land and its people.
“I want to remain very badly but the Home Office has even taken away my right to appeal.”
Matt came to the UK in 2003 on a student visa to study a PhD. As a skilled worker, he was given a Tier 1 post-study visa in 2011. A year later, when he settled in Moray, he was upgraded to Tier 2, one of the visas the Home Office says can lead to permanent leave to remain but every application he has made since 2013 has been dismissed.
The Home Office has told him that a visit of a few months he made to China when he was made a professor there meant his 20-year stay in the UK had not been continuous and this has counted against him.
In 2020, he paid the Home Office £2408 to lodge his application to remain. His cheque was cashed but he was refused permission immediately.
Since then, he has paid another £4816 in fees. Lawyers have told him it would cost a minimum of £5000 to represent him in an immigration hearing.
He said: “I can’t afford it, especially as the UK Government has taken so much money from me while slamming the door in my face. I hope the Home Office can find some compassion for me. I am trying to stay strong but I am desperate.
“I have a home, a job, friends and a life in Scotland, and I believe I make a positive contribution to my community.” Matt’s MSP, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, said: “Matt has made a significant contribution in Moray and my team and I have worked with him to assist his efforts to remain here permanently.
“We will continue to explore all avenues to try to find a solution that will enable Matt to continue to live in Moray, and I have made further such representations to the Home Office this week.”
Matt’s SNP MP Richard Lochhead also said he would appeal to the Home Office. A Home Office spokeman said all cases were assessed on their merits and added: “We do not routinely comment on individual cases.”
A Change.org petition has 100s of signatures backing Matt.
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