The sister of a woman with cerebral palsy, who is on the verge of deportation, is making an urgent appeal to the Australian government to allow her to remain in the country.
Jacqueline Schmidt Aravena, 61, has been residing in Melbourne with her sister Marcela since 2017, after initially arriving in Australia from Chile on a visitor visa.
Marcela, who works in aged care and disability support, has dedicated most of her life to caring for Jacqueline, who also has an intellectual disability. This commitment fulfills a promise Marcela made to her mother over four decades ago on her deathbed.
In a bid to prevent Jacqueline’s deportation, Marcela has submitted a third request for ministerial intervention, supported in writing by Greens Senator David Shoebridge.
Marcela expressed that if Jacqueline were forced to return to Chile, it would have a catastrophic impact on their family.
“She is not going to survive,” Marcela emphasized.
“She would have to go to a nursing home, and nursing homes in Chile are nothing like they are here.”
The uncertainty has left the family in a harrowing state of limbo. Jacqueline’s bridging visa expired on Thursday, and the family spent the day waiting for news on a renewal while their third application for intervention sits with the department.
“We are not asking for special treatment or any kind of financial assistance. We are asking for humanity,” Marcela wrote in the petition.
Spokespersons for both the Assistant Minister for Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite and the Department of Home Affairs told nine.com.au they could not comment on individual cases for privacy reasons.
