A Southampton mother has come forward after reading in about John Simmons, who is currently taking on the Attorney General in Supreme Court in an effort to have the Immigration Law changed.

Canadian Diane Williams married Bermudian Ronald Williams in September, 1988 and he proceeded to adopt her three children from a previous marriage including her son Jason, who celebrated his 17th birthday in July that year.

?When we applied for his Bermudian status, we were told he had only been in Bermuda four years and nine months, as opposed to five years, and the application was denied,? she said.

She said a letter arrived from Immigration that Jason was no longer deemed to have status and could no longer live or work in Bermuda.

?I was outraged and heartbroken. How could they rip our family apart like this?? she said.

Mrs. Williams added that Jason returned to Canada where he did not have any family.

?We were just three months short of the five year period! I can?t believe they wouldn?t allow him status to stay with his family and it breaks my heart not to have my son close to me,? she said. Mrs. Williams said Jason visited the family four years ago and they decided to try once again to keep him here.

?But Immigration found out and deported him back to Canada before we even had a chance to challenge the courts. He hasn?t been back since and we don?t even think they?d let him back into the country,? she said.

She said they had proceeded anyway to take the matter to court, but couldn?t pursue it any further after her husband suffered a stroke and the family couldn?t afford the legal fees.

?Jason could be here helping us financially as well as with emotional support,? she said. She said her two daughters were granted Bermudian status as they had lived here the required five years before they turned 22 and she and her husband had since had twins.

?If John Simmons wins this case we will definitely try again to get Jason back to Bermuda. He is only 33 years old and has been living on his own since he was 22. It?s just not right,? she said. Mrs. Williams said she was sure there were many families in Bermuda who were in a similar position and would like to see the Immigration Law changed as far as the cut-off age of 22 is concerned.