Deportation: Zimbabwe

(asked on 23rd February 2022) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any of those facing deportation to Zimbabwe on 2 March were British citizens whose citizenship has subsequently been revoked; and if so, what were the reasons in each case.


Answered by
Baroness Williams of Trafford Portrait
Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
This question was answered on 9th March 2022

We do not comment on individual cases, but I can confirm that we only ever return those who the Home Office and, where applicable, the courts are satisfied do not need our protection and who have no legal basis to remain in the UK. By definition, they do not need protection and not at risk on return.

Individuals being returned have had the opportunity to raise claims, including protection and modern slavery claims prior to their deportation or administrative removal. All claims raised will be fully considered and decided – we would not remove someone where there were outstanding claims or concerns. Each case is considered sensitively, appropriately and on its individual merits. All available evidence is carefully and sensitively considered against a background of relevant case law and in light of published country information, which covers country specific issues. Our country policy and information notes are published on the gov.uk website. They are kept under constant review and updated periodically.

Since January 2019 we have returned 10,017 foreign national offenders (FNOs) and since April 2020, we have utilised over 110 charter flights to deport FNOs and other immigration offenders to countries across Europe and around the rest of the world.

The Home Office publishes data on the number of returns from the UK, by nationality, including Zimbabwe, in the Immigration statistics quarterly release which can also be found on gov.uk.

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