PAULETTE WILSON, a vocal campaigner for the Windrush generation, who herself was wrongly classified as an illegal immigrant by the Home Office has died.

Wilson, 64, was found dead on Thursday morning by her daughter, The Guardian reported. Her death has been described as unexpected.

Wilson came to Britain from Jamaica when she was a child in 1968.

After spending 50 years living and working in Britain she was told by the Home Office that she did not have the right to remain in the UK. As a result she spent time in immigration removal centre Yarl’s Wood and was almost deported to Jamaica in 2017.

The experience, which saw her denied benefits, left her homeless for a time.

Speaking to The Guardian in 2017, Wilson’s daughter Natalie said: “I am surprised we didn’t lose her from the stress. She is normally so bubbly and sociable. Since she came out of Yarl’s Wood she has withdrawn.”

Windrush campaigners have today expressed their sadness at the news of Wilson’s death and praised her pursuit of justice.

Jacqueline Mckenzie, a lawyer who represents many victims of the Windrush scandal, tweeted: “Saddened to hear of today’s death of Paulette Wilson who arrived in the UK in 1968, aged 10, but became a victim of the Windrush scandal – told she had no rights of residency, she was detained in an IRC. Paulette took on the fight for justice for others. May she rest in peace.”

Desmond Jadoo, co-founder of the Windrush Movement UK, tweeted: “My sincere condolences go out to the family of Windrush Victim Paulette Wilson who sadly passed away overnight. May the Lord bless her family and may she rest in peace.”

Last month, Wilson, who had spent the latter years of her life campaigning for justice on behalf of those affected by the Windrush scandal, was among a group which handed a petition to Downing Street.

The petition called on the government to speed up the Windrush compensation process.

Within its first year of operation, the scheme made just 60 payments, totalling £360,000.

Glenda Caesar, was also among the group that handed in the petition to Downing Street in June.

Caesar came to the UK from Dominica when she was just three months old. After decades living and working in the UK, Caesar was wrongly deemed to be in the UK illegally and was refused the right to work or claim benefits for 10 years.

“My thoughts & prayers go out to Paulette Wilson, may she rest in eternal peace,” Caesar tweeted. “Yet again another victim passed away without even having access to her compensation. See @ukhomeoffice @pritipatel in our twilight age you have put us through this stress.”