UK Home Office Updates Deportation Rules

The UK Home Office published updated caseworker guidance on deportation, version 8.0, which outlines three categories of individuals who cannot be routinely deported from the United Kingdom. The first category is British citizens, who are entirely exempt from deportation orders.

The second category includes Irish citizens, who are not typically deported unless a court recommends it as part of sentencing or if exceptional public interest circumstances arise, usually involving serious offenses like terrorism or murder. The third category consists of certain Commonwealth and Irish citizens who were lawfully residing in the UK as of 1 January 1973, protected under Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971.

For all other individuals, deportation may be pursued based on criminality if they have received a custodial or suspended sentence of 12 months or more, have caused serious harm, or are deemed persistent offenders. Additionally, deportation may be considered for national security threats or serious criminal activities.