I take issue with some of the information in your article (EU citizens in UK could face deliberate hostility policy after Brexit, theguardian.com, 16 January) and with the fears that it may create in EEA nationals. As an immigration adviser and representative of 19 years’ standing, it remains my belief that the government will not create the “nightmare scenario” envisaged. At Brexit, there will be three categories of European Economic Area nationals living in the UK. Those who have achieved permanent residency, those who have residency, and those who cannot get any kind of residency recognised because they have not been exercising treaty rights.

The first group, whether or not they have a card which recognises their permanent residency, are likely to be treated as though they have indefinite leave, and although they may need to apply for a card under the 1971 Act, it is inconceivable that they will be made to leave or have their work restricted in any way. The second group are trickier, and I would expect the government at some point to give a cut-off date, informing EEA nationals that they would be able to stay as long as they had residency by a certain date, and to this end residence cards would be required.

The third group do have reason for concern, as they have no legal basis to stay. However, these are often the people who have the strongest moral argument to stay. It is stay-at-home parents, the elderly, carers. It is disproportionately women, and it is overwhelmingly people who have established a family life in the UK. They also have protection under the European court of human rights.

It is right to say that it is unlikely that anyone will be removed. But I believe that it is wrong to focus on the worst case scenario. We have two years before we leave the EEA, and immigration lawyers should spend that time helping EEA nationals to get registered and to lobby the government to do the right thing by those who can’t. It doesn’t help to scare people who have lived in the UK for 20 years into thinking they will be deported by stealth.

Victoria Sharkey

MediVisas UK LLP, London

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