Mateusz moved to the UK with his parents in 2004, when he was seven years old. He attended primary and secondary school in England, then went on to study travel and tourism at university, which he completed. He works for a transportation company and pays taxes. Yet, he still faced the threat of deportation, all because of a lack of sufficient evidence of his long stay in the country.
He Lived in England for 20 Years. He Applied and Got Rejected
Mateusz’s case was brought to light by *The Guardian*. He lives in Kent with his parents, who have settled status in the UK, known as EUSS (which allows them to stay after Brexit). He also applied for this status, submitting certificates, bank slips, and other documents proving his long stay in the UK. However, his application was rejected in January 2021, a decision he only learned about a year later. He requested an administrative review of the decision, which took several more months. Finally, in August 2024, the rejection was upheld. Mateusz then took a trip to Thailand, only to return to an unpleasant surprise.
He Was Detained at the Airport. "I Was Searched, and My Phone and Wallet Were Taken"
Upon returning from his vacation on September 18, Mateusz was detained at Heathrow Airport by immigration officers. This was due to the lack of confirmation of his EUSS status. After waiting eight hours and posting bail, he was allowed to return home. He sought legal help from the charity *Settled*, which deals with similar cases, because he faced deportation. "I was devastated to be held for eight hours in a room at Heathrow Airport," he told *theguardian.com*. "I was searched, and they took my phone and wallet. They asked me why I was coming to the UK. I said: 'Because I live here.' I speak better English than Polish," he added.
He Faced Deportation, Which Was Canceled at the Last Minute
Mateusz’s case was taken up by Andrew Jordan, who immediately urged officials to delay the deportation, as they were waiting for confirmation from the Home Office regarding a new EUSS application, along with credible evidence that Mateusz had arrived in England as a seven-year-old. Unfortunately, as the confirmation had not yet arrived, the deportation was scheduled to take place on Monday. A twist occurred at the last moment, specifically on Sunday afternoon, when Jordan received an email informing him that the flight had been canceled. "I’m not sure what will happen next, but hearing this news, I feel like a bit of sunshine is breaking through the clouds," he admitted.
