An Albanian man who tried to enter Britain illegally four times before being jailed for cannabis farming has avoided deportation after it was ruled he did not meet the legal definition of a 'foreign criminal'. But after Koka appealed in October 2023, it was ruled he did not actually count as a 'foreign criminal' - and so he was allowed to stay in the country. Under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, offenders need to fulfil some of three specific criteria to be given that tag. The proposals would eradicate the threshold, currently set out in the law, which says foreign offenders handed a 12-month jail term or more should face removal. Current law says foreign offenders should automatically face deportation if they have been sentenced to a prison sentence of 12 months or more.

Source: The Times March 20, 2025 12:30 UTC