UK Immigration
Major overhaul in family migration
The UK government has announced a major overhaul of family migration policy, under which foreign criminals will no longer be able to stay in Britain by arguing their "right to family life".
The new family migration policy will help stop foreign criminals hiding behind human rights laws to avoid deportation and ensure that only migrants who can support themselves financially may establish their family life in the UK, a press release of the British High Commission said yesterday.
British Home Minister Theresa May said judges must stop blocking the deportation of foreign criminals from Britain because the right to family life is “not absolute”.
“The changes are intended to increase integration, tackle abuse of family migration, and reduce pressure on public services”, the release said, adding that most of these changes would come into force from July 9, 2012.
The new UK immigration rules will mean deportation should become the normal consequence for anyone receiving a custodial sentence of at least 12 months.
For criminals jailed for more than four years, the public interest in removal will outweigh the right to private and family life in all but the most exceptional circumstances.
For the first time UK Parliament will have a debate, scheduled for June 19, on what level of criminal behaviour should outweigh human rights claims from foreign offenders.
The British home minister said, “It is unacceptable that foreign nationals whose criminal behaviour undermines our way of life can use weak human rights claims to dodge deportation."
“We want these new rules to make it clear when the rights of the law abiding majority will outweigh a foreign criminal's right to family and private life. By voting on this in the House of Commons, Parliament will define for the first time where the balance should lie.”
According to Home Office figures, last year 185 foreign prisoners successfully appealed against deportation after citing the right to family life.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments