Family's plea to remain in Wales

Mr Quibuyen said his family considered Wales as their home

A campaign backed by hundreds of people is urging the Home Office to reconsider deporting a Filipino nurse and his family, who have settled in Wales.

Aldrin Quibuyen, 36, who has lived in Ammanford for four years, has been told he must leave the UK but is appealing.

He says the decision was taken because he was late filling in a form. He has the backing of his local church, other Filipinos in Wales and MP Adam Price.

The Home Office said there was a right to appeal against a leave notice.

Mr Quibuyen was recruited in the Philippines to come to work Wales in 2003 and most recently was employed at a nursing home in Llanelli.

His wife Rhoda and six-year-old son Buzz followed a year later, while his daughter Phebe, two, was born in Wales.

My son was in tears when we told him Aldrin Quibuyen

But Mr Quibuyen has now been told he must leave.

He said it was because his paperwork had lapsed and he was late in submitting a form due to a misunderstanding.

"We have settled down very well - I have bought a house here, my daughter was born here and my son goes to school here.

'Injustice'

"We mingle with the local community and have many friends. We don't have anything in the Philippines - a house or land - for me this is my home.

"It would be very hard to go back - my son was in tears when we told him.

"I am hopeful we can stay because of the support we are getting."

A petition has been organised by members of the town's Salvation Army.

Simon Sheppard, of the Salvation Army, said: "Those supporting Al feel he has been dealt a great slice of injustice - he has given so much to the country as a nurse and has never claimed any special treatment or benefit."

And MP Adam Price said he would be raising the issue in Parliament.

"Hundreds of local letters have been sent backing Aldrin," he said.

"I believe he is a deeply honest, law abiding and hard working individual for whom the well being of his family is the sole focus of everything he does."

A Home Office spokeswoman said they could not comment on specific cases but they said that everyone had the right to appeal against a leave notice and each was throroughly assessed on a case-by-case basis.

It was on the onus of each individual to ensure that their work permits were up to date.