New power to deport long-term UK residents unveiled
Key Points
- The Home Secretary will gain power to disapply Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971 for serious criminals
- The amendment targets Rochdale grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed, released on 2 July after 14 years
- The threshold is tied to citizenship deprivation, reserved for cases of exceptional severity
- Pakistan is not expected to accept Ahmed and could face UK visa restrictions
- The Immigration and Asylum Bill passed second reading 264 votes to 90
The Home Secretary will amend the Immigration and Asylum Bill to allow the deportation of long-term UK residents convicted of the most serious crimes, in a move targeting Rochdale grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed.
Shabana Mahmood told MPs on Monday (13 July) the amendment would hand the Home Secretary a new power to disapply Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971, which shields some long-term residents and Commonwealth citizens from removal.
The threshold for using the power will be tied to the existing power to deprive individuals of citizenship, which applies only in cases of exceptional severity. Mahmood told the Commons the protection “should not be acting as a bar against removal” in cases such as Ahmed’s.
Ahmed was released on 2 July after serving 14 years, following his 2012 conviction for rape and sexual offences against girls as young as 12. Mahmood conceded that the law change alone would not secure his removal, telling MPs the Foreign Secretary and Home Office continue to pursue a deportation.
Pakistan is not expected to accept Ahmed, and is reportedly demanding the extradition of two political dissidents from the UK in return. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the country of origin must agree to take back offenders, with Downing Street indicating Pakistan could face visa restrictions if it refuses.
Victims’ Minister Catherine Atkinson said the threat of visa penalties had produced results before, pointing to Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which all began cooperating on returns within four months of restrictions being threatened.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the Conservatives supported changing the law to remove Ahmed, but urged the government to pass emergency legislation rather than wait for the 75-page Bill to complete its passage, telling MPs there was “not a moment to lose”.
The amendment will be introduced at the Bill’s committee and report stages.
The Immigration and Asylum Bill passed its second reading on Monday night by 264 votes to 90, a majority of 174, with 14 Labour MPs rebelling.
The wider Bill replaces immigration judges with a new Independent Immigration Appeals Authority, tightens the application of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and introduces a power requiring refugees to repay a portion of taxpayer-funded asylum support.
