Legal News
Home Office Powers Strip More British Nationals of Their Dual-Nationalities (6 September 2011)
Date: 06/09/2011
An increased number of British nationals are being deprived of their dual-nationalities under Home Office powers that were introduced following the July 2005 London bombings. The number of British nationals subject to the power has significantly increased following the election of the coalition government. The measure, which was included in the 2006 Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act, was a direct result of the 2005 bombings. The power of refusal was used four times since its introduction but has been used nine times since the 2010 general election. These recent figures were released to the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act. The Home Office has refused to provide an explanation for the apparent increase.
Under the 2006 Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act, the home secretary has the power to deprive an individual of British citizenship in the instance that it is believed to be "conducive to the public good.” Immigration solicitors and some MPs have condemned the power, with many concerned that the Home Office is able to strip an individual of their British citizenship when their other nationality is effectively meaningless to them. At least one individual born in the UK is thought to have been deprived of their British citizenship under the power. Others who have lost their citizenship are believed to have resided in Britain from a young age.
Duncan Lewis’ team of immigration solicitors based in Dalston, Harrow and Shepherds Bush are available to assist individuals with issues relating to immigration. Their immigration solicitors can provide assistance relating to general immigration, refugee and asylum immigration, work permits, visas, and business immigration.