Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is gearing up for a legal showdown! The Home Office is set to appeal a High Court decision that’s temporarily halted the deportation of an Eritrean man under the UK-France migrant returns deal. Originally scheduled to fly out on Wednesday, the man secured a last-minute lifeline after a judge granted him temporary relief.
Ms Mahmood is not having any of it, though. She’s cracking down on what she labels as “last-minute claims” that are slowing down the government’s plans to deport certain asylum seekers back to France under the “one in, one out” agreement. In her own words: “Last-minute attempts to frustrate a removal are intolerable… I’ll fight them at every step!”
But wait, there’s more! While the Eritrean man’s legal team argues that his case is tied to a trafficking claim, the Home Office counters that he should seek asylum in France. The judge did mention there seems to be a significant issue to address in regards to the trafficking claim.
There’s a lot at stake here—especially with the UK hoping that the returns agreement will dissuade small boat crossings across the Channel. Interestingly, France has agreed to accept an initial small group of deportees but the UK is eyeing a ramp-up in numbers.
Meanwhile, James Murray from the Treasury assures folks that the government is in tune with public sentiment around immigration and is committed to tackling illegal migration.
The plot thickens as the Home Secretary also eyes a review of modern slavery laws to see if they’re being exploited. So, buckle up, because this legal drama is far from over, and it’s one that could shape the future of the UK’s immigration policies!