A CO Derry woman and her US-born husband involved in a citizenship dispute with the UK Home Office over her refusal to declare herself British, are travelling to London to muster support from MPs.
Emma and Jake DeSouza married in 2015, but the couple's visa application for Californian Jake's spousal right to live in Northern IreIand was refused as Emma's request was made as an Irish citizen living in the UK.
The Home Office has said that as Emma was born in the north, she must reapply for the visa as a British citizen. But Emma maintains this undermines her Irish citizenship rights under the Good Friday Agreement.
A tribunal judge ruled in favour of the DeSouzas last November, but the Home Office was granted permission to appeal. The case will return to court on November 26.
The row prevented Jake from travelling, as he had surrendered his passport as part of the visa application process. However, he has since been granted leave to travel, and will join Emma in a visit to Westminster today, where they will meet MPs to discuss their case.
The couple will be accompanied by Sinn Féin MP Michelle Gildernew and Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile.
Ms DeSouza said: "We are concerned that with Brexit looming there will be a major watering down of rights for Irish citizens in the North, against the backdrop of the Home Office's continuing culture of disrespect. We will be meeting with MPs including Labour's Diane Abbot and the SNP's Martin Docherty, and we hope to bring our case to as wide an audience as possible."
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