Why Is The Immigration Department Deporting This Boy With Autism?

"Why does he have to leave?"

This is Ethan, and he's pretty upset with the government.

ABC

Ethan wants to know why his mate Tyrone is about to be deported. Tyrone lives with autism, and despite living in Australia for most of his life he has been deemed a burden on society.

Ethan goes to school with Tyrone and says he's got a lot to give to Australia.

ABC

Ethan's question drew applause from the QandA crowd.

ABC

"Thank you so much for standing up and having a voice."

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Youth disability advocate Jane Burns, herself the mother of a child living with autism, said, "This is an example of leadership of young people on issues that they care about. The stigma attached to disability is still rife across the community."

Trade Minister Andrew Robb admitted it was a "terrible situation", while comedian Dave Hughes called it "Horrifying."

Tyrone's mother says if he's forced to leave Australia it will be "very distressing."

Via Facebook: profile.php

Maria Sevilla, originally from the Philippines told BuzzFeed News that as she waits for information regarding an appeal to the Immigration Department, her Australian bridging visa will expire, meaning she'll be unable to work.

Ms Sevilla also said she fears what moving back to the Philippines will mean for Tyrone.

"If we need to leave, Tyrone needs to start all over again," Maria Sevilla told BuzzFeed News. "He needs to start from scratch. He doesn’t know the environment, the culture, the people or the language. That’s the crucial part of the change."

He got used to the routine in Australia. [If we're forced] to move he’ll experience anxiety and some temper issues. If autistic children experience changes with their routine they have tantrums because they can’t voice what’s going on in their mind. It will be very distressing for him. Most autistic children will express their frustration through tantrums rather than through communication," Ms Sevilla says.

Tyrone's mother started an online petition in 2014, begging the government not to deport her son to a country he doesn't know.

Via change.org

"My child Tyrone has spent almost his entire life here, English is the only language he hears, yet now, at 9 years of age, the government are going to deport myself and my son to the Philippines because of his autism," Tyrone's mother wrote in September 2014.

"I've worked for years, raising my son and studying to be a nurse. Yet all of it could be taken away because the government thinks that children with autism are going to be more of a cost to Australian society than a benefit - but that’s just not true!" she said.

You can read and sign's Tyrone's full petition here.

A spokesman for federal immigration minister Peter Dutton told BuzzFeed News the decision to deport Tyrone is likely to stand.

Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images

"Most visas for Australia require applicants to meet the health requirements set out in Australian migration law," the spokesman said.

"The health requirements are an objective assessment to determine whether the care of an individual during their stay in Australia would likely result in significant costs on the Australian community.

"The visa was initially refused because the child did not meet the health requirement.

"The Migration Review Tribunal has recently considered this case and affirmed the Department’s decision.

"People can seek ministerial intervention once a refusal decision has been upheld at merits review.

"Ms Sevilla has asked the Minister to intervene in her case after stating her reasons in writing as to why she should remain in Australia. The Department will prepare a report for the Minister to consider in due course.

"Whilst the matter is under consideration neither Ms Sevilla or her son will be required to leave Australia."