AN MP is calling on the Home Secretary to “urgently reverse” a decision to remove a frontline care worker from the UK.

Yesterday, The Argus reported on care worker Anugwom Izuchukwu Goodluck, 30, who has been given until the end of the month to leave the country or face deportation. 

The agency worker cared for Brighton and Hove’s vulnerable from 8am to 8pm daily as Covid-19 hit the UK in February and March.

The Argus:

Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas said: “It’s hard to think of a more heartless response from the Home Office than to threaten to deport someone who has put themselves on the frontline to protect others.

“Priti Patel promised this week to make the Home Office a more compassionate organisation with a ‘people first’ approach to immigration. She needs to start with cases like this.

“Deporting a care worker who is one of those we have been applauding for the past four months, and whose closest family live in the UK, shows the Home Secretary may talk the talk on immigration reform, but the hostile environment for immigrants is still deep-rooted in the Home Office.

The Argus:

“I urge her to urgently reverse this decision.”

Mr Goodluck came from Nigeria in 2018 to study a Masters in international relations at Sussex University.

His mother and brother live in the UK and his grandmother, his only family in Nigeria, has since died.

Mr Goodluck had applied for a family visa but was told in March, amid the growing pandemic, he was no longer allowed in the country and had to leave. The Home Office says he has until July 31.

Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade said: “Priti Patel’s Home Office have repeatedly said that carers and health staff aren’t skilled enough to warrant being in our country. I disagree.

“The sector is already on its knees and we need talented and dedicated people like Mr Goodluck to keep the service running for those in need in our community.”

Lib Dem spokesman for Brighton Kemptown Ben Thomas said: “Goodluck is a friend of mine and does not deserve to be treated this way, he genuinely cares about our society and has so much more to bring to our community.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “We are incredibly grateful for all the work that carers have done during coronavirus, which is why we have made them exempt from the immigration health surcharge.

“Those who are in the UK must follow the immigration rules – and that includes not continuing to work in the UK after applications for visas have been refused.

"We have granted individuals who cannot return home due to coronavirus leave to remain until July 31."