Immigration Solicitors

The Home Secretary has announced that the government intends to place a 72-hour limit on the detention of pregnant women detained under the Immigration Act.

The government will table the new legislation through the Immigration Bill when it returns to the House of Commons later in April.

In the statement, the Home Secretary Theresa May emphasised that, while pregnant women should be detained only in exceptional circumstances, it is vital for the Home Office to retain the ability to detain them for short periods of time as a very last resort – such as at the UK border – in order to remove them quickly if they have no right to stay in the UK, or if they present a risk to the public.

The Home Office says the proposed change will provide an additional safeguard in any case involving a pregnant woman being held at an immigration detention centre before their removal from the UK.

Detention could only be extended beyond the 72-hour limit via ministerial authorisation, but only for up to a week in total.

Home Secretary Theresa May said:

“We take the welfare of detainees very seriously – that is why I commissioned Stephen Shaw to carry out an independent review of the welfare of vulnerable people in the detention estate, which was published earlier this year.

“We have listened to him and to others in Parliament and beyond in shaping a humane system that will effectively end the routine detention of pregnant women.

“This new approach and our wider reforms strike the right balance between safeguarding pregnant women and vulnerable people – and maintaining effective and proportionate immigration control.”

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors

Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors can advise on a wide range of immigration matters, including detention under the Immigration Act, right to work in the UK, the Modern Slavery Bill, illegal entry to the UK, asylum in the UK and asylum appeals – as well as appeals against deportation from the UK under the Human Rights Act.

Duncan Lewis is a successful firm of Legal Aid immigration solicitors – and can advise on business immigration, work visas, visa overstays and student visas.

For expert legal advice on UK immigration law – including appeals against deportation from the UK using human rights legislation – call Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

For urgent help with immigration matters, call the Duncan Lewis 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607, where an accredited immigration lawyer is available 24/7.