http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...sh-enough.html
Born to a former officer of the Welsh Guards, Stephen Hewitt had every right to consider himself British.
As well as being able to trace his family lineage back to the 15th century, he was educated, married and employed in Britain.
But Mr Hewitt, 50, who moved to the US in the 1980s, was stunned when he was told he could not return as a permanent resident.
Enlarge Businessman Stephen Hewitt (right) wants to come back to England to be reunited with his family, including daughter Leigh (left)
Despite both his parents, his three daughters and grandson living here he was told that his UK ties were ‘not strong enough.’
The decision comes just days after it was revealed former Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed, 32, has been granted permanent residency in Britain.
The controversial move came despite Ethiopian-born Mr Mohamed - who moved to the UK in 1994 - continuing to claim the Government, MI5 and MI6 were complicit in his illegal detention and alleged torture.
Mr Hewitt, an estate agent living in Rhode Island, said: ‘I’m bitter about this. I’m not asking for any benefits or any special circumstances. I will always work. I’m not above doing anything for a living.
‘I’ve always worked. I’ve never taken benefits from the UK or the United States. I’ve always paid my taxes wherever I am at. All my family have said they will support me.
‘I don’t see how you can have any stronger family ties than this. I can’t comment on every case of immigration in England now, but I doubt there are many of these people coming into the country now that have stronger ties than I do to the country.’
'Inhumane decision': The strong family ties have been ignored, says Stephen's daughter Pamela (left) pictured with her sister Leigh (right) and Pamela's son Callum
He said: ‘I just want to be home with my family. England has always been home, my first home always, and this has been a big punch in the stomach because people in this country all think that I’m British.
‘I’ve always said that I’m British even though I was born in America and have an American birth certificate and passport, but now they’ve made it abundantly clear that I’m not English and it hurts.’
The case hinges on his complex family history which saw his own father, Michael, born in Holland while his parents were living there temporarily in the 1930s.
Mr Hewitt Snr was registered as a British citizen by birth and trained as an officer at Sandhurst before serving with the Welsh Guards.
But he later emigrated to the Chicago where he married and had three children - including Stephen - before returning to the UK.
His son, then aged just four, returned to the UK with him and he was educated at Blue Coat Church of England School and afterwards studied at Oldham Technical College while working in the cotton mills.
Mr Hewitt has spent £4,000 so far in his bid to return home. Here he is pictured with his brother David in 1965 after arriving in the UK
He married his first wife, Julie, in 1979 and they had his first child, Pamela, before moving back to the States in 1982.
Mr Hewitt Jnr joined the US Army and served with the 82nd Airborne Division but he and his wife later divorced.
She returned to the UK with their three daughters in 1995 while Mr Hewitt remained in the States.
However after the breakdown of his second marriage, Mr Hewitt wanted to be close to his elderly parents, daughters and grandson.
He applied for the right of abode in the UK last year, citing his father’s British citizenship.
But because his father himself was only British by descent, he was told he could not be considered British and as he had been born and lived in the US he was legally an American.
Mr Hewitt, a Manchester United fan, said: ‘I’ve always maintained very close ties to England. I want to be with my family.
My parents are both in their 70’s, they’re both healthy but things can change very very quickly.’
His father, Michael, a retired university lecturer said: ‘Other people are allowed to bring their brides and fiancees and certain members of family because the law allows it. But my son seems to be a victim of anti-Americanism.’
The UK Border Agency refused to comment on the case but last night Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham and former Minister of State for Borders and Immigration, said he would spreak with the UK Border Agency boss.
He said: ‘This is a straight forward situation that is easily resolved by the application of common sense. There’s no doubt that Michael Hewitt is British and because of that his son is entitled to British citizenship. Of course the family should be allowed to be together.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz124nJbdMa
An Albanian pimp who jumps out of the back of a lorry in Dover waving the asylum card is usually granted citizenship after a few difficult years collecting whatever benefits are thrown at him
Originally Posted by fred
nothing unfair there 
