Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed strong disapproval following the High Court’s decision to halt the removal of an asylum seeker to France. The Eritrean individual, slated for deportation on Wednesday, was granted a temporary reprieve due to a legal challenge. He was anticipated to be the first person removed under the new ‘one in one out’ arrangement for small boat arrivals.
Mahmood vowed to challenge the ruling vigorously, denouncing last-minute efforts to obstruct deportations as unacceptable. She criticized migrants who claim to be modern slaves just before removal, labeling it a mockery of the country’s laws and generosity. Mahmood emphasized her commitment to combatting vexatious claims and defending the British public’s interests in court to safeguard border security.
The man, whose identity remains undisclosed for legal reasons, was scheduled for a flight to France at 9 am on Wednesday. However, Mr. Justice Sheldon ruled in favor of granting him interim relief, allowing 14 days to contest his deportation. Sonali Naik KC, representing the man, argued in court that he faces the risk of destitution if sent to France, citing a trafficking claim and asserting his vulnerability due to a gunshot wound in his leg.
According to the Home Office, about a third of asylum seekers in France lack accommodation, receiving only a daily allowance of 7.50 euros. The man is reported to have traveled to Italy in April before reaching the UK via France last month. Kate Grange KC, representing the Home Office, refuted the man’s claim of destitution, pointing out that charities were willing to provide him with accommodation if he sought asylum.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall expressed disappointment over the court’s decision but emphasized that it would not impede the implementation of the bilateral agreement. The agreement, established post-Brexit, allows for the return of small boat arrivals to France. This marks the first return agreement between the UK and France since Brexit, aiming to facilitate the exchange of individuals with legitimate claims to enter each country.
Initially capped at approximately 50 individuals per week, the government aims to expand the agreement’s capacity in the future to manage the influx of arrivals effectively.