A Bray primary school is appealing to Ireland's Department of Justice to revoke a deportation order for a 9-year-old student.
Eric Zhi Ying Xue, a 4th class pupil at St. Cronan's in Bray, is facing deportation despite being born in Ireland and never having lived anywhere else.
Eric's mother is a Chinese citizen, but Eric is not - meaning he will not enjoy the rights of a Chinese citizen in China if deported.
The school has set up a
public petition in order to pressure the government into reversing its decision to deport the child.
The petition has quickly gathered steam, with more than 15,000 signatories since it was established yesterday afternoon.
"We in St. Cronan's School appeal to the Minister for Justice, Mr. Charlie Flanagan, to revoke the deportation order made in respect of Eric Zhi Ying Xue.
"Eric is a 9-year-old boy in 4th Class in St. Cronan’s BNS Bray, who was born in Ireland but is not an Irish citizen and has never been out of the country. If he is forced to go to China, where his mother was born, he will have no access to China’s health or education systems because he is not a Chinese citizen. This is a humanitarian issue - Eric urgently needs your support."
The petition follows jubilant scenes last week when 14-year-old Tullamore student Nonso Muojeke, who has lived in Ireland since he was two-years-old, was given leave to remain in Ireland.
The decision to revoke Muojeke's deportation order followed a long campaign by Tullamore College staff and students, with support from the wider public.
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