Minister Andrew Giles is reviewing the Aneesh family’s case before they are deported over son’s disability

A family from India who have lived in Australia for seven years have been told to pack up and leave, with immigration officials saying their son with Down syndrome is a “burden” on the healthcare system.

Aneesh Kollikkara and Krishna Aneesh, who have found a home in south Perth with their two children, are devastated to be deported next Wednesday after their permanent residency application was rejected.

Both Ms. and Mr. Aneesh work in critical industries facing staff shortages – Ms. Aneesh in Cybersecurity and Mr. Aneesh in Critical Telecom.

But immigration hacks ruled that Aaryan, 10, could potentially represent too high a cost for the taxpayer-funded healthcare system.

The devastated family said they found the government’s finding “nauseating and dismissive”.

Aneesh Kollikkara (left), Krishna Aneesh (right) and their children Aaryan (centre right) and Aaryasree (centre left) face deportation next Wednesday

Immigration Services denied the Aneesh family permanent residency due to Aaryan’s (above) “expensive” disability

However, the family found new hope on Tuesday after hearing their case was being reviewed by Federal Immigration Secretary Andrew Giles.

An online petition calling for the family to remain in Australia has received more than 26,000 signatures since it was created last week.

Ms Aneesh said her family have never resorted to any of the taxpayer-funded resources available in Australia to help Aaryan.

“We’re eligible for NDIS and Medicare, but we haven’t accessed anything for Aaryan through NDIS,” she told ABC.

“(The Government) has clearly stated that if we are granted permanent residency it is a financial burden on the community and on all taxpayers here in Australia.

“We can say that we pay more than our own taxes and contribute to society.”

The government estimated that Aaryan’s disability could cost $664,000 over 10 years.

Ms Aneesh added that adjusting to life in India would be very difficult for Aaryan and his eight-year-old sister Aaryasree.

Immigration officials rejected the Aneesh family’s (above) application for permanent residence, saying their son Aaryan’s disability was a “burden” on taxpayers

The family (above) said they never had access to taxpayer-funded resources for 10-year-old Aaryan’s Down syndrome

“The culture, the society, everything here is very different from India and it will also be very difficult for Aaryan to survive there because of[his disability],” she said.

The family further explained their situation in their online petition.

“Although Aaryam is not currently accessing any services and likely never will, it has been classified as ‘expensive’ which seems unfair,” they said.

“By working in critical industries and paying significant amounts of tax, any taxpayer-funded services that Aaryan may need would be fully covered by our contributions.

“We are now faced with the prospect of leaving our homeland and returning to India, which would be detrimental to our children’s development.

“We have no family or support network in India and we fear for Aaryan’s future. We are concerned about the quality of medical care Aaryan will receive, the stigma he will face and the opportunities he will miss.”

Federal Immigration Secretary Andrew Giles (above) is the Aneesh family’s last hope of remaining in Australia

The family concluded the petition with a final cry for help: “Help us give Aaryan the best future possible. It is not fair that our family is being punished just because of Aaryan’s condition.’

Thousands of Australian taxpayers said in the comments they had “no problem” paying for the hard-working family’s stay in Australia.

Hundreds more called on the government to act with “compassion” and said the reason for rejecting the family’s application bordered on “discrimination”.

Minister Andrew Giles is the family’s last hope before she is deported.

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk