Arabic version: المجتمع يدعم أمًا من جنوب أستراليا تواجه الترحيل إلى تايوان

A South Australian mother, Ying-Hsi Chou, is facing imminent deportation due to a paperwork error related to her passport. Chou’s potential removal could separate her from her husband, Ben Cox, and their three children, leaving the family in distress.

Born in Myanmar in the 1980s, Chou moved to Taiwan in 2002, where she became a citizen. Her name change, made in defiance of Myanmar’s restrictions, has now led to complications with her immigration status. According to SBS News, Chou’s troubles began with a passport form she completed in 2012 that did not accurately reflect her travel history.

Her lawyer, Gordon Chang, noted that Chou failed to declare her previous visits to Australia, which has resulted in her facing deportation within days. If removed, Chou will have to wait three years to apply for a new Australian visa, with no guarantee of success.

The situation has been particularly hard on Chou’s eldest son, who struggles to understand why his mother may be taken away. Chou expressed her uncertainty in answering her son’s heartfelt questions about their future.

In response to the looming deportation, an online petition initiated by the local community has garnered over 3,000 signatures in support of Chou. Additionally, her lawyer is preparing a legal petition to submit to Immigration Minister Tony Burke, urging him to intervene in the case. The Home Affairs Department has stated that it does not comment on individual cases but emphasizes that all non-citizens must comply with migration laws.