Tyrone Sevilla, a nine-year-old boy with autism who was due to be deported from Australia will now be allowed to stay after the immigration minister had a change of heart.
Despite living most of his life in Australia, Tyrone was deemed a burden on society by the immigration department and was due to be deported to the Philippines.
Tyrone’s case drew national attention in April when his young friend asked a question on Q&A, asking why his mate had to leave the country.
A Change.org petition asking immigration minister Peter Dutton to reconsider the decision gained over 125,000 signatures, and a 4000 page petition was delivered in-person to the minister last month.
Tyrone’s mother told BuzzFeed News that the deportation would have disastrous consequences.
"If we need to leave, Tyrone needs to start all over again," Maria Sevilla said. "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."
The immigration department has now confirmed Tyrone will be allowed to stay in the country.
Mr Dutton confirmed the decision at a press conference this morning.
"I looked at the case and I have determined that we will provide these people with a permanent arrangement and a permanent outcome in Australia, and I think that's good for them. I'm very pleased that we can provide the assistance to a young boy who is in need of medical and educational support, and as a generous country, that's what we do."
But the immigration minister has also defended the system which would have had Tyrone deported.
"There are many families in Australia who have children with autism or with complicated medical conditions who would say to you that they are on long waiting lists, that they find it difficult to get in to see a doctor or for transplant surgery to take place, for example, the cancer treatment, as I say, for autism otherwise."
"And there are finite resources available at both a state government level in terms of health and education and at a federal government level. And we provide support to those people that we can, but there is very specific provision within the Act that if there is a displacement or if there's a cost above a certain level that people won't be considered for an outcome."
"Now, in some cases, there is able to be ministerial intervention, and that was the case in relation to Tyrone's matter. I'm very pleased that we've been able to do that but in terms of future cases, this is a power which is used very sparingly."
The process to allow Tyrone to remain in Australia should be completed in the coming weeks.
Note: An earlier headline on this story mistakenly contained an error. It has since been updated.