Immigration (Sivarajah Suganthan)
The Petition of residents of Bristol West, and others,
Declares that the Petitioners support Sivarajah Suganthan, a fellow Bristolian who has previously been detained in Campsfield detention centre, awaiting deportation to Sri Lanka.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons asks the Home Secretary to reconsider Sivarajah’s case.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Stephen Williams, Official Report, 13 January 2011; Vol. 521, c. 511.]
[P000877]
Observations from the Secretary of State for the Home Department:
The Government take their responsibilities to asylum seekers very seriously and consider each individual application for asylum on its own merits. It is notable that Sivarajah Suganthan has already made the details of his asylum claim status public to the media.
Mr Sivarajah’s claim for asylum was fully considered by Government officials and was refused. Later, he lodged an appeal against this decision. An immigration judge agreed with the refusal and dismissed the appeal, endorsing the finding that he does not require refuge in the UK and can safely return to Sri Lanka. Since then, steps have been taken to arrange his removal from the UK.
During the consideration of his case, both the Government and the immigration judge fully considered all factors in Mr Sivarajah’s claim, including his length of residence in the UK and his claim to family life here. Accordingly, there would have to be overwhelmingly compelling evidence to warrant reconsideration of this case.
Ultimately, it has been found that Mr Sivarajah has no legal basis to remain in the UK and must return to Sri Lanka. When someone in this situation refuses to leave voluntarily, the Government will seek to enforce their removal.