A 12-year-old girl from the Philippines has been banned from moving to Aotearoa because she's autistic, despite both of her parents having residency.
A petition was launched by the parents of Arianna Gail Alfonzo whose visa application was declined because of her autism.
"[Immigration New Zealand] declined her visa because she has autism and INZ said she will likely impose many costs and demands [on] New Zealand education," her mother said in the petition.
Arianna lives with her mother roughly 7800km away from her father, who lives here in New Zealand and works in the construction industry.
In the #LetArianaStayNZ petition, which has over 2000 signatures, Arianna's mother detailed the heartbreak she has seen with Arianna being separated from her father.
"I witnessed how Arianna misses her father, they never had a chance to bond and enjoy each other even on special occasions like Christmas, New Year and birthdays," she wrote.
"We want to give my daughter the best of what the world might offer."
Arianna's father said New Zealand is home and provides a better place to live.
"It is deep pain that I was not able to reunite with my family here in New Zealand. I believed New Zealand value[s] family, extend kindness and compassion to children like Arianna."
Arianna's parents went to Associate Minister of Immigration Phil Twyford to request a health requirement exemption that would look past Arianna's autism, which Twyford declined.
Green Party immigration spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March told Newshub Twyford didn't think about Arianna's wellbeing.
"It felt as if the Minister wasn't taking a strength-based approach to the benefits of having the family together and to consider the wellbeing that it would have on Arianna," he said.
"Our policy settings mean that we are constantly at the mercy of the minister just deciding someone's livelihoods effectively."
Menéndez March said Arianna's story like many others highlights the need for a change in policy.
"We need systemic change beyond time-consuming and often demoralising appeals to an individual to have a family be able to be reunited and not be discriminated on the basis of being neurodivergent."
He said the policy is splitting families apart.
"Effectively what the Government is telling them is that in order for you to live in New Zealand you're going to have to let go of your daughter."
He added that Arianna's story and the current immigration settings don't send a good message to New Zealand's autism community.
"By declining Arianna based on being neurodivergent, I think it also sends a message to people here that they're not valued because they're autistic."
Arianna's mother said she loves school, the beach and meeting new people, and is asking for her to be treated fairly.
"Like any other child, Arianna deserves to live with dignity and be treated fairly. Arianna deserved to have a complete and happy family."
Twyford declined to comment on Arianna's story.
