Theresa May has pledged to review the case of 10-year-old asylum seeker Giorgi Kakava, an orphan who is under threat of deportation from Scotland.
Giorgi and his widowed mum Sophie fled Georgia seven years ago amid threats from gangland figures in their native country.
Sophie died in February before their asylum application could be processed and Giorgi, who only speaks English, is being cared for by his grandmother.
Glasgow North East Labour MP Paul Sweeney called on the Prime Minster to guarantee asylum for Giorgi at Prime Minister’s Questions.
“Giorgi has lived in Glasgow since he was three years old,” he said.
“His only language is English and he speaks it with the same accent as I do.
“Will the Prime Minister promise today that he will not, under any circumstances, be torn from his school friends in Glasgow and sent to a country that is entirely foreign to him?”
Mrs May responded by committing to an “individual case review” by the Home Office.
Mr Sweeney said the case demonstrated the human cost of the Tory hostile environment policy, creating “broken families, broken friendships and broken lives”.
The minister of Springburn Parish Church in Glasgow, Rev Brian Casey, who has led the campaign on behalf of Giorgi and his grandmother Ketino welcomed the promise.
Rev Casey said: “I am very pleased that Prime Minister Theresa May has assured the House of Commons her Home Secretary will examine Giorgi’s case personally and carefully. Seeing Sajid Javid nodding his head in agreement was reassuring that he will take it very seriously.
“Today, Giorgi’s grandmother, Ketino, handed over a petition with more than 60,000 signatures to Home Office officials in Glasgow, who are examining their applications for asylum.
“The petition reflects strong public opinion that Giorgi is, by all intents and purposes, a ‘Scottish’ boy and should not be deported to a foreign country he doesn’t know.
“This is about a 10-year-old boy’s future – a case that is about humanity, compassion and decency. I pray there will be a positive outcome for Giorgi and his gran soon.”
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford added his support for Giorgi and said his case was yet another example of why Theresa May must axe her hostile environment policy.
“The hostile environment policy is simply unacceptable,” he said.
“For us, immigration is absolutely central to delivering sustainable economic growth.
“We are also campaigning on undocumented children as well and are waiting for a response from the prime minister over charges.
“We welcome the contribution migrants make and, in contrast, the policies of Theresa May are highly detrimental and must stop.”
