Deportation Flight to Jamaica Debate

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Department: Home Office

Deportation Flight to Jamaica

Abena Oppong-Asare Excerpts
Monday 10th February 2020

(4 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Kevin Foster Portrait Kevin Foster
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It does have to be said that the majority of deportations are to the EEA, and, as I touched on in my initial answer, we deport criminals who meet the thresholds regularly every week to a range of countries. As we keep on saying—I will say it again—it is the criminality, not the nationality that determines the outcome in each case.

Abena Oppong-Asare Portrait Abena Oppong-Asare (Erith and Thamesmead) (Lab)
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One of the individuals facing deportation tomorrow came to the UK aged five. He committed a crime aged 17 and did the time many, many years ago. Is it fair to punish people for mistakes they have already paid for?

Kevin Foster Portrait Kevin Foster
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When Parliament passed the UK Borders Act 2007, under the proposals of the then Government it would have considered whether it is appropriate to apply deportation orders to those who are serious or persistent offenders as part of the penalty for the crime. I believe the vast majority of the public think that is right.