Uk, May 30, 2024: In a recent immigration case illustrating how complicated the UK citizenship laws are, the British born child may be deported to Nigeria. Semilore was born in England but her parents are both from Nigeria, they moved to the UK on family visas.
Under the current British nationality laws, if the parents of a child born in the UK are not British citizens or do not have indefinite leave to remain in the UK, such a child does not acquire citizenship automatically. However, the application of Semilore’s parents for indefinite leave to remain was denied.
Semilore’s deportation would be a violation of her human rights, given that she has never been to Nigeria, and the UK is the only place she has known, believes the family lawyer, Yewande Adeniran. According to Adeniran, “It’s a very complex case. Semilore is a British child who was born here; she has never been to Nigeria. Deporting her would be against her human rights”.
The family allegedly should not continue staying in the UK as per the Home Office position, which claimed that “Family returns policy is designed to maintain effective immigration control and ensure the welfare of children.” This case has sparked a debate surrounding the necessity of reforming UK citizenship laws to avoid deporting children born there.
“British nationality laws require a review since this instance,” Jacqueline McKenzie— immigration attorney emphasizes. “The birth of a baby in the UK must mean he/she becomes a British citizen with no consideration done on their parents’ status about immigration.”
Semilore’s family is still fighting deportation; this demonstrates the human consequences of complicated immigration policies and the ongoing reform of British citizenship laws debate.