Amika Brown, a 41-year-old mother of three, has been living in fear after receiving a letter from the Home Office threatening to revoke her British citizenship over accusations of identity fraud. Brown, who has lived in the UK for over 20 years, says she has provided evidence that disproves the allegations.
The letter, received two weeks ago, claims that Brown obtained her British citizenship under a false identity and warns she could be deported to her native Jamaica. However, Brown, who works as an accountant, asserts that the details in the letter, including her surname and date of birth, are incorrect—raising concerns that her identity may have been confused with someone else’s.
“I am absolutely traumatised,” said Brown. “I am terrified I’ll be taken from my family in the middle of the night. They are accusing me of fraud, but I have all the proof of who I am.”
In an effort to clear her name, Brown submitted her birth certificate, which confirms she was born in 1982, not 1979, as stated in the Home Office’s letter. She also provided her brother’s birth certificate, which shows he was born in 1979, proving they could not have been born just three months apart.
Despite sending this evidence, Brown has yet to receive a response from the Home Office, leaving her in a state of anxiety. “What upset me most is that they didn’t ask me to prove my identity first. They just accused me straight away. I’ve seen cases of wrongful deportation, and I’m scared.”
Brown’s concerns extend beyond her immigration status. As an aspiring chartered accountant, she worries the fraud accusations could derail her career. “You can’t be an accountant if you’re linked to fraud,” she said. “This could ruin everything I’ve worked for.”
Brown moved to the UK from Jamaica in 2002 at the age of 19, initially on a visitor’s visa. She married in 2009, gaining legal status and eventually securing “Indefinite Leave to Remain” in 2015. She became a British citizen in 2019 after spending nearly £10,000 in legal fees. Now, the threat of losing her citizenship has thrown her future into uncertainty.
The Home Office has yet to comment on the case, leaving Brown and her family anxiously awaiting further communication.