Immigration News

UK Immigration Minister Damian Green has vowed foreign rioters and looters will be deported from Britain at the ‘earliest opportunity’.

According to the UK Border Agency, around 150 of the 2,800 people arrested over the looting and arson attacks are foreign nationals.

Immigration Minister Damian Green has said: ‘We strongly believe that foreign national lawbreakers should be removed from the UK at the earliest opportunity.

‘We also have the power to cancel UK visas of foreign nationals found guilty of criminal activity, and this is something we will be looking to do when cases arise.

‘Last week saw unprecedented criminality on our streets and the courts are now dispensing firm justice to ensure those responsible are punished.’

Under immigration rules, criminals from outside Europe are automatically put forward for deportation if they are sentenced to 12-months or longer in prison. Deportation also applies to Europeans who are given a 12-month sentence for drugs, violent or sexual crimes, or 24 months for other crimes.

Courts are able to recommend deportation in other instances, and the UK Border Agency is able to revoke visas for anyone found guilty of criminal activity.

However, offenders can use the Human Rights Act to appeal against deportation on grounds that they are entitled to a family life or if their life is at risk in their home country.