The Bishop of Lichfield is urging local people to sign a petition for an immigration amnesty for those who arrived in Britain decades ago as part of the Windrush Generation.
Windrush Generation settlers from Caribbean Commonwealth nations were invited to live and work in the UK as British subjects following the Second World War to help address labour shortages. But an anomaly in the law means that many children who arrived under Windrush in the 1950s and 60s were never formally naturalised.
Thousands have suffered immigration problems and many are being denied health services or prevented from working despite having lived in the UK their whole adult life. Those affected include grandfather Elwaldo Romeo whose story is here.
The Bishop of Lichfield, the Right Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, has signed a petition calling for an amnesty for those who arrived as minors under Windrush before 1971. He has been joined in signing it by the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Right Revd Mark Rylands; the Bishop of Wolverhampton, the Right Revd Clive Gregory; the Bishop of Stafford, the Right Revd Geoff Annas; and the Revd Rachel Parkinson, Chair of the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District of the Methodist Church.
Bishop Michael said: As preparations are made to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Windrush, it saddens me greatly that people who have lived here their whole adult lives now face uncertainty and fear.
These are individuals in their 50s and 60s who have contributed to society and may have never known a home outside of the UK. I am urging people across the Midlands and beyond to join me in signing this petition to right this wrong.
You can sign the petition which is already approaching 50,000 signatures - here.