You can’t live here, grandad

Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date published: 07 October 2010


Family’s fury as former Oldham worker’s UK return from US barred

A GRANDFATHER brought up in Oldham has been refused permission to return here to live with his family.

Despite his parents, three daughters, grandson, brother and other relatives all living in or near Oldham and he himself having worked here, Stephen Hewitt (50) has been told his family ties are not strong enough to warrant residency.

The former Blue Coat School and Oldham Tech student, who worked at Manor Mill for seven years, emigrated to America 28 years ago to help care for his wife’s grandparents, but never imagined he wouldn’t be allowed to return.

An immigration tribunal recently denied him returning residency saying he has been away for more than two years and had settled in the States.

But his Oldham family are outraged the judge didn’t use his powers of discretion, ignoring exceptions such as the reasons for being away so long and the nature of his family ties, and are appealing. Oldham MPs Phil Woolas and Michael Meacher have supported the case.

Mr Hewitt said: “My whole family lives in England and to live there means everything. It’s all I want. I think the decision is cold and heartless. I never dreamed in a million years that a place could be so cold hearted to family. It’s mindblowing.

“I have spent my whole life telling people I’m British and they say I’m not. It hurts to think the place I have always thought of as home I have no right to and my whole family is there.”

Mr Hewitt, who lives in Rhode Island and works in real estate, is only allowed a two week holiday every year and has flown to England 22 times, but never has enough time to visit everyone.

He was born in America to an American mother and British father but they moved to Oldham when he was four-years-old. He married, aged 20, in 1979 and moved to America in 1982, working as a prison warden before joining the American Army.

His marriage ended in divorce in 1990 and his ex-wife moved back to England in 1995 with their three daughters. Mr Hewitt had already remarried and with three step-children to help support could not move back. But he is now divorced and wants to be with his family in Oldham.

Mr Hewitt attempted to gain citizenship last year through his father’s nationality, but failed due to a controversial interpretation of a change in the law. His grandfather was working temporarily in Holland so his father was born there but registered British. But because he was born overseas, it was ruled his son can’t be considered British by descent.

Joining the American Army aged 23 has also counted against him as a judgment stated this meant he regards the US as home - while his family argue he just wanted a stable and secure job.

His daughters live in Royton, Shaw and Oldham, his father in Cheshire, his mother in Leeds, his brother in Yorkshire and other relatives nearby.

Daughter Pamela Hewitt, from Royton, said: “The strong family ties have been completely ignored. I think the decision the judge has made is completely inhumane. I’m so upset.

“We own our houses and none of us have any desire to go back to the States. He does not want to come here to claim benefits. We will fully support him financially, not that he needs it, until he’s found his feet and is working.

“You see in the newspapers people trying to get here illegally and it makes me so angry when my father lived here for 18 years and paid taxes and speaks English.

“I love this country but I’m disgusted with the way my father has been treated. He’s absolutely depressed and desperate to move here.”

The UK Border Agency doesn’t comment on individual cases.