A prominent Christian musician and a team of college-age missionaries were recently deported from the United Kingdom under new immigration rules that require religious workers to be sponsored by a licensed organization and obtain visas to enter the country.
In early March, Colorado-based singer Don Francisco (pictured) was denied entrance into London and a Master’s Commission team from Arkansas was deported from Edinburgh, Scotland, because immigration officials said they needed work visas under new regulations introduced in November.
“One of the things that has been said to me over the last few days is that Christians have to operate under the radar all over the world,” said Judy Littler Manners, a Christian leader based London. “But this is the first time they may be forced to do it in this country.”
Francisco was scheduled to participate in the Christian musical Why Good Friday, which includes 10 of his songs. But when he arrived at Heathrow Airport on March 2, Francisco was detained, fingerprinted and escorted onto a flight back to the U.S., because immigration officials said he lacked the proper paperwork.
“I felt like they were looking for reason to keep me out,” said Francisco, who has traveled throughout the U.K. for 30 years without incident.
“Anyone who goes into England from this point on for any reason other [than] to be a tourist and just spend money had better have their ducks in a row,” he added.
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