A migrant care worker based in Yorkshire faces being deported in May if he is unable to find work, despite there being over 12,500 vacancies in the sector, says UNISON today.

Tonye Chrisholm Jaja came to the UK from Nigeria on a health and care visa, when he was sponsored* by Universal Healthy Minds Ltd. But the company has had its license removed by the Home Office, as it was considered not fit and proper to sponsor migrant workers.

Tonye, who lives in Leeds and worked in the Wakefield district, has been without a sponsor since December, and although he has been trying to find a new one, employers are telling him they can’t offer full time hours, meaning they cannot meet the requirements of the visa scheme.

He has now been issued with a deportation notice. This means Tonye has until 2 May to find another sponsor, or leave the UK.

This would result in a skilled care worker leaving the country, despite the care sector having 12,700 vacancies, says UNISON.

UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside migrant worker lead Jordan Stapleton said: “Tonye’s situation is a clear example of the awful experiences faced by many migrant workers who come to this country…