Windrush generation latest: immigration stress led to sudden death of man aged 57, his bereaved mother claims

Grieving Sentine Bristol has said Theresa May "should be ashamed of herself"
Fiona Simpson19 April 2018
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The mother of a Windrush child has claimed the stress caused by immigration problems led to his death aged 57.

Dexter Bristol moved to the UK in 1968 when he was eight and spent the rest of his life in the country.

He travelled with his mother Sentine, who had a British subject passport from Grenada, and worked as an NHS nurse.

He is reported to have lost his job as a cleaner because of questions over his right to be in the country, and then denied benefits as he could not prove he had not entered the country illegally, Channel 4 News reported.

He died on March 29, aged 57, before receiving a letter suggesting a breakthrough in his case.

Windrush generation arrive in Britain

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Mrs Bristol said Prime Minister should be "ashamed of herself".

She told the broadcaster: "Mrs Theresa May should have another look at the situation... the situation she created in this country for the Caribbean and African (people)... the foreigners.

"She should be ashamed of herself and all the other MPs who are on her side they should be ashamed of themselves because we are human beings.

"I would not accept myself as a foreigner - I am not a foreigner, this is my home."

Recent restrictions in immigration law require people to have paperwork proof of near-continuous residence in the UK.

Many of those in the so-called Windrush generation lack these records, having never applied for British citizenship or passports, and are now struggling to prove they are here legally.

However, it has emerged that thousands of landing card slips recording the arrival of Windrush-era immigrants were destroyed by the Home Office in 2009.

A Home Office spokesman told the Guardian they offered condolences after hearing of Mr Bristol's death.

It added he was not subject of removal action.

Additional reporting by Press Association.

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