{
"type": "rich",
"version": "1.0",
"provider_name": "Action Network",
"provider_url": "https://actionnetwork.org",
"html": "",
"author_name": "Migrants Against the Acceptable Standard of Health Aotearoa",
"author_url": "https://actionnetwork.org/groups/migrants-against-the-acceptable-standard-of-health-aotearoa",
"title": "Help Keep Sophia with Her Family in New Zealand",
"thumbnail_url": "https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/petitions/photos/000/679/726/normal/Let_Sophia_Stay.png",
"description": "My name is Marciano De Castro Gregori. I immigrated to New Zealand from Brazil in May 2022 to build a better future for my family. In December 2022, my wife and I brought our two children, Sophia and our older son, to join me here. We’ve worked hard, built a new life, and proudly contribute to New Zealand’s economy and society. Our son is thriving in school, making friends, and becoming part of the community we now call home. But now Immigration New Zealand has declined Sophia’s student visa — not because of anything she or we did wrong, but because she has been diagnosed with autism level 3. Sophia is five years old. She is non-verbal and still needs daily care, yet she is bright, self-aware, and learning every day. Since receiving her diagnosis here, she has made remarkable progress thanks to New Zealand’s excellent healthcare and education support. Instead of recognising her potential, Immigration New Zealand has labelled Sophia a “cost.” They refused to assess her as an individual. They refused to consider a medical waiver. They treated her as a statistic — not a little girl, not a daughter, not a human being. Why Sophia should be allowed to stay New Zealand’s international commitments: Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, New Zealand has pledged to protect the rights of children and people with disabilities. Deporting Sophia would break these commitments. Sophia’s best interests: Returning her to Brazil would deprive her of the specialised care and education she needs. The support she has in New Zealand simply isn’t available there. Her quality of life — and her future — would be severely harmed. Impact on the whole family: Uprooting Sophia would tear apart a family that is already fully integrated into New Zealand society. Her brother, who is thriving in school and community life, would also suffer from being forced to leave his friends, teachers, and new home. The need for fairer policy: The current “Acceptable Standard of Health” policy is outdated and discriminatory. Families like ours invest time, money, and love to build a future here, only to be punished when a child receives a medical diagnosis. Immigration policy must reflect compassion, not fear of cost. Our call to action We urge the Honourable Associate Minister of Immigration to: 1. Grant an exemption for Sophia, allowing her to remain in New Zealand with her family. 2. Reform the Acceptable Standard of Health policy so no child is unfairly judged as a “burden” because of disability or medical needs. Sophia is not a statistic. She is a child who belongs here — in a country that values fairness, inclusion, and human dignity. Her brother, her parents, and her future all depend on New Zealand standing by those values. Please sign this petition to help Sophia and her family stay in New Zealand — and to stand up for a kinder, more inclusive immigration system.",
"url": "https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/help-keep-sophia-with-her-family-in-new-zealand"
}