British-born man who has never left the UK faces deportation

A 28-year-old man born in Lambeth, South London, who has never left the country, expressed his distress upon learning about his imminent deportation to Portugal. This decision, based on a post-Brexit policy aimed at EU nationals convicted of crimes, was delivered by the Home Office. Dmitry Lima, despite being British and having no prior travel experience, received the deportation order after serving a prison term for drug offences and carrying a Taser.

Lima, who lacked a criminal record before this incident, is challenging the deportation ruling, asserting his British citizenship and highlighting his inability to afford UK passport fees earlier. Per the new post-Brexit regulations, an EU national can face deportation if their prison sentence exceeds 12 months, marking a departure from the previous threshold based on serious grounds of public policy and security.

Previously, EU nationals with five years of UK residence would only be deported on imperative grounds of public security. Lima's convictions in August 2020, involving drug offences and possessing a prohibited weapon, resulted in a four-year and six-month sentence, of which he served just over two years. The deportation order was issued in October 2022, following his transfer from prison to the Brook House immigration removal centre at Gatwick Airport.

In his appeal, Lima contends that he is a British citizen due to his parents' settlement in the UK. He emphasized the devastation he would face, both mentally and emotionally, if forced to leave the life he had built in the UK. The appeal also mentions the government's British nationality bill, introduced in May 2023 to rectify the status of individuals whose parents utilized EU free movement rights before 2000.

Lima's lawyer, Naga Kandiah, criticized the Home Office for lacking records of Lima's presence in the UK and failing to acknowledge his client's continuous residence and Article 8 rights. The government's failure to enact the British nationality bill and the ensuing legal challenges have created uncertainty and financial strain for Lima.

A spokesperson for the Home Office maintained the policy of not commenting on individual cases, emphasizing its longstanding position.

ब्रिटिश-जन्मे आदमी, जो कभी भी विदेश नहीं गया, निर्गमन का सामना कर रहा है।