A 17-year-old girl has been refused residency in New Zealand because she has Down syndrome, it has been reported.

The girl, referred to in court documents as “JB”, was labelled a “burden” and “not of an acceptable standard of health” by authorities.

JB is a citizen of India who arrived in New Zealand in 2016 with her family. Unlike her parents and sister, who were granted residency in 2017, followed by permanent residency in 2019, JB’s application was refused.

Her parents have stated that JB is “not on any medication, was leading an active life, and would not be a burden on New Zealand’s health services”.

But a repeal was refused, and now JB is forced to live in India with her father and grandparents.

While JB has what is deemed to be a moderate intellectual disability, her parents are adamant that she can live a valued life that would not be a burden on the New Zealand taxpayer.

A British family underwent a similar experience in 2019 when their daughter with Down syndrome was also refused residency.

SPUC comment

A SPUC spokesperson said: “What JB’s rejected application for residency amounts to is discrimination founded on ignorant and bigoted stereotypes about persons with Down syndrome.

“Down syndrome is a congenital chromosome disorder. This does not mean that such individuals do not live valued lives, however, as ‘Down Syndrome Diary’, a book celebrating the positive experiences of 27 families with Down syndrome children, shows.

“Unfortunately, this case is also indicative of the barbaric trend towards aborting babies with Down syndrome, viewing them as a ‘burden’ not worthy of life.

“But as the actor Jamie Foxx recently attested to, his sister, who had Down syndrome, was a ‘gift’ who lived a fulfilled and happy life.”

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