CALLS have been made for an urgent review of the immigration status of two university researchers who are facing deportation.

Ernesto Schwartz-Marín and Arely Cruz Santiago, a married couple who are both employed by Durham University, have been told they have to leave the country by the end of next week.

The University and College Union, which organised a demonstration in support of the couple, has now written to Home Secretary Amber Rudd to ask for an urgent review of their case.

General secretary Sally Hunt said: “It is imperative that our immigration system provides the flexibility for researchers in our universities to complete their work without fearing for their immigration status.”

Around 35,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Home Office to change its mind while more than £17,500 has been raised to help launch a judicial review to challenge the decision.

The couple have launched an appeal using human rights legislation to allow them to stay in the country to carry out the judicial review.

Football pundit Gary Lineker tweeted his support of the couple.

The couple, who have been living in the UK since 2007, applied last year for indefinite leave to remain.

Their application was refused because they spent 270 days doing fieldwork in Mexico in 2014/15 as part of their project to create a DNA database to help identify the remains of the hundreds of thousands of people who have been killed or disappeared in drug wars.

The Home Office rejected the claim the work qualifies as assisting in a humanitarian crisis, which would exempt them from the requirement of not being out of the UK for more than 180 days.

The UCU has also asked for clarification on the right of international staff to strike after concerns were raised by people worried about the consequences of taking part in ongoing UCU strikes over pension changes.

According to the union, members are concerned taking part in strikes could jeopardise employer sponsorship.

Ms Hunt added: “International staff make a vital contribution to our universities and we need urgent clarity from the government to address these concerns.”

A 14 day strike, which has affected Durham, Newcastle and York universities, finished yesterday. If a deal is not reached, further action is planned to hit this summer’s exam period.

Dr Marek Szablewski, vice president of the Durham branch, said: “It’s been remarkable. Members are determined to get a result.

“Before when we’ve had strikes there have been 10 people on the picket. Even though the snow, we’ve had more than 100 every day. The members have been fantastic and the support is outstanding.”

The Home Office did not comment on the UCU’s letter.