Local man, Professor Matthew JUNFEI HU Freeman, 50, from Lossiemouth imminently faces deportation from the UK this September following home Office instruction, failure to comply with this will see him jailed.
Mr Freeman has continued to fight to remain in the UK following his successful appeal for additional time in March 2021.
The China-born 50-year-old moved to the UK in 2003, three years after the tragic death of both of his parents and has lived in Moray since 2012.
Matthew moved to the UK to successfully gain a PhD in Electronics Engineering and then worked as a professor and laboratory manager locally to his university before moving to Moray, to work with a private company.
While residing in Moray, he has been integral to many Morays based charities, such as co-founding the Moray Wellbeing Hub and working with VOX Scotland, Reboot, the Human Rights Consortium Scotland and TSI Moray.
Matthew is also currently employed at the Highlands and Islands Student Association as the Regional Vice President of Education and has personally lobbied for positive changes on behalf of over thirty thousand students, across the University of the Highland’s and Islands (UHI) partnership.
Despite his heartfelt contribution to the wider Moray community following his extensive work, he has never been successful in his appeal for permanent residency since 2013.
The Home Office have instructed him that he must return to China by September where he does not have any family, relatives, friends or he faces jail-time and deportation for non-compliance.
Mr Freeman has already spent over five thousand pounds in fees for various applications to the Home Office in an attempt to secure permanent residence in the UK.
Professor Freeman said:
“I have spent a decade here, I have given and will continue to give as much as I can to Moray, because it has given so much to me.
“The people of Moray and Scotland gave me a home and I will be forever grateful for their kindness.
“I am so lucky to live in Scotland and I know I am Scottish citizen with Chinese heritage.
“I have tried so hard to sort this with the Home Office and spend my own money, I don’t know what else to do.
“Moray is my home, please don’t take it from me, Home Office.”
Mr Freeman intends to appeal to the Home Office regarding his case and has already written to a number of senior politicians directly such as Douglas Ross MSP MP, Richard Lochhead MSP and to First Minister Humza Yousaf and directly to Suella Braverman.
An online petition created by Mr Freeman on the 10th of June 2023 to the Home Office has already amassed over fifteen thousand signatures from people across the UK.
If you would like to like to learn more or sign the petition or visit his Facebook page for more information.
