Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood strongly criticized the High Court’s decision to halt the deportation of an asylum seeker to France. The Eritrean individual, who was set for removal under the new ‘one in one out’ agreement, received a temporary reprieve after filing a legal claim.
Ms. Mahmood expressed her determination to challenge the ruling, condemning last-minute efforts to obstruct deportations. She emphasized the need to combat what she described as manipulative tactics used by migrants to avoid removal, stating that such actions undermine the country’s laws and generosity.
The unnamed man, facing deportation, was granted interim relief by Mr. Justice Sheldon, allowing him a 14-day window to contest his removal. His legal representative, Sonali Naik KC, argued that the individual faced potential destitution in France due to his vulnerable circumstances.
According to the Home Office, the asylum seeker had traveled through Italy before arriving in the UK via France. The court was informed that a significant number of asylum seekers in France lack accommodation and receive a daily allowance of 7.50 euros.
Despite the setback in the High Court, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall reassured that the overall agreement to return small boat arrivals to France would proceed as planned. This agreement, the first of its kind post-Brexit, aims to facilitate the return of individuals with legitimate claims to the UK in exchange.
Initially limited to around 50 individuals per week, the British government anticipates the potential for scaling up the agreement in the future to manage the influx of arrivals effectively.