The Guardian Weekly

Thousands of EU citizens facing threat of deportation

European citizens who have applied for settled status are being detained and threatened with deportation, a development that contradicts assurances from ministers and appears to contravene the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

The Home Office has served EU nationals with removal directions even though they could prove they had applied for settled status, which should protect their rights to remain in the UK. Ministers have repeatedly promised that anyone who had applied by the 30 June deadline would have their existing rights protected while their case was heard.

The apparent failure to honour that agreement has prompted accusations of either “administrative incompetence” by Home Office officials or a “wilful” attempt to deport as many EU nationals as possible on the assumption they are easier to remove, for instance, than asylum seekers. A letter from the legal charity Bail for Immigration Detainees (Bid) to the head of immigration enforcement, dated 29 July, raises concerns over the Home Office’s failure to acknowledge receipt of settled status applications in cases where it wants to deport EU citizens.

Bid said it intended to make an official complaint to the European Commission unless a meaningful response is received from the Home Office by 6 August.

Lawyers argue it marks an important battle to protect the rights of EU nationals after Brexit. They warn that failure to acknowledge applications could affect thousands of people.

Global Report | United Kingdom

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2021-08-06T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-08-06T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://theguardianweekly.pressreader.com/article/281809991943117

Guardian/Observer