Latest news with #ImmigrationandAsylumChamber
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Ghanaian asylum seeker wins right to remain in UK because he is too traumatised by getting Covid to return to his home country
A Ghanian asylum seeker has won a human rights claim to remain in the UK after arguing he is too traumatised by getting Covid to return to his home country. Winfred Kwabla Dogbey was diagnosed with PTSD after he was hospitalised with the virus in 2020, where he suffered an extreme version of the illness with multiple organ failure. The 52-year-old told a tribunal that he had been experiencing 'post Covid-19 syndrome' and was part of a rehabilitation programme for those impacted by the outbreak. The panel heard that this type of treatment in the West African country was 'practically non-existent' and that psychiatric care offered is 'insufficient'. After hearing of how Mr Dogbey would likely experience a 'rapid and severe decline in his mental health' if he were to return to Ghana, he has won a claim to stay in the UK. The Upper Tier Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber heard Mr Dogbey came to the UK in April 2013 on a visa. He claimed asylum in June 2016 and after this was refused, there was a 'protracted history of lodging further submissions'. The panel heard that the asylum seeker was hospitalised and required critical care after contracting Covid-19 in May 2020. Mr Dogbey had suffered a 'very severe' episode of Covid-related pneumonia, with associated multiple organ failure. The tribunal referred to a letter from his GP, which detailed how he was experiencing 'post Covid-19 syndrome'. And, it was heard that he had been diagnosed with moderately severe PTSD and major depressive disorder [MDD]. Mr Dogbey argued that there would be 'very significant obstacles' to his integration in Ghana, if he were to be returned. This was after the Home Office ultimately rejected his asylum claim in December 2023. The judge heard Mr Dogbey is taking part in a 'Covid-19 Rehabilitation Programme' and is receiving physiotherapy appointments. He has appointments arranged for CT and Ultrasound scans, and has been referred to the Neurology department at All Bucks Hospital in Buckinghamshire. The panel, made up of Upper Tribunal Judge Khan and Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge Gill, said they were 'satisfied' that Mr Dogbey's health conditions 'persist' and agreed that he was a 'seriously ill person'. Lawyers representing the Home Office argued that both treatment and medical care is available to Mr Dogbey in Ghana. They said there are psychiatric hospitals in the West African country. But the panel noted they 'conceded' to mention that the psychiatric care offered in Ghana has been deemed 'insufficient'. Mr Dogbey's lawyers referred to a report which stated he would be 'highly unlikely' to receive professional mental and physical health services in Ghana. The tribunal heard that only 0.6 percent of Ghanaians with a major depressive disorder are able to receive treatment. It was said that even those patients who are able to access mental health treatment received 'poor quality of care'. The judgement said: 'Ghanaians with severe mental health illnesses are referred to psychiatric hospitals and prayer camps. 'They experience 'human rights abuses in both' where they suffer further trauma.' The lawyers said that the 'Ghanaian crisis of mental health care and the mistreatment of the mentally ill' has received 'international attention'. They referred to evidence which stated that in hospitals patients are 'forcibly coerced, including being sedated and beaten, into taking the prescribed mental health medication, and are given electroconvulsive therapy without use of anaesthesia'. The judgement added: 'Furthermore, post Covid treatment in Ghana is 'practically non-existent'.' It was heard that there is 'only one private psychologist trained in trauma focused therapy' in Ghana. And, the country's healthcare system does not cover psychiatric or psychological counselling services, meaning that those practising are 'not regulated' and had been 'evidenced to cause harm'. The panel heard that one expert said Mr Dogbey would experience an 'intense and overwhelming' level of suffering if he were to return to Ghana which would be 'intolerable'. The Consultant Clinical Psychologist said he would 'not be able to cope with the rapid and severe decline in his mental health'. Judge Gill said: 'Given the severe and systemic problems identified in the provision of mental health services, and with no evidence before us to suggest that the position is likely to change, we determine that mental health treatment is not reasonably likely to be accessible or become available to Mr Dogbey for his mental health conditions. 'We therefore find... that Mr Dogbey would face a real risk of being exposed to a serious, rapid and irreversible decline in his state of health resulting in intense suffering.' The judge said he is allowed to stay on the grounds of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights act.
Telegraph
25-03-2025
- Telegraph
Migrant with ‘prominent Adam's apple' lied he was a child to get into UK
An asylum seeker with a 'prominent Adam's apple' lied to get into the UK by claiming he was a child. The Iranian, who is now 20, was found by an immigration tribunal to have attempted to 'deceive' authorities by saying he was under 18 when he entered Britain in October 2022. He claimed he was born in May 2005, making him 17 at the time of entry. However, an investigation found that the 5ft 8in-tall migrant had the 'physical characteristics of an older male' with a 'deep voice,' 'fully formed jawline,' 'well-developed bone structure,' and 'large ears'. Social workers from Liverpool city council assessed him as being over 18 and estimated that he was born in May 1999. However, with the support of the British Red Cross, the unnamed man was able to mount a legal challenge. At an Immigration and Asylum tribunal, Helene Santamera, a project co-ordinator for the charity, said she believed the Iranian was a teenage boy partly because after his arrival he had been gifted a 'teddy bear' that he 'held and cuddled'. She said he was also visibly more 'comfortable' around children than with adults. Upper Tribunal Judge Clive Lane ruled he was born in May 2004 and aged 18 when he entered the UK, and that he had chosen to 'conceal' his true age to strengthen his asylum claim. He ordered the man to pay the council's legal bills of £16,442. After the British Red Cross offered him support, the council remained steadfast and insisted it would not conduct a new age assessment. The Iranian was granted permission for a Judicial Review but the case first went before an Immigration and Asylum Chamber. Migrant 'tried to make himself look smaller' The tribunal was told he was 'currently provided with support and accommodation by the Home Office' and had been living in hotels. The council's initial assessment found: '[He] presented as approx. 5 feet 8 inches tall with a well-developed bone structure and of medium build. [He] has a fully formed jaw line, prominent Adam's apple, large ears and facial features of an adult and appears significantly older than his claimed age. '[He] has the physical characteristics of an older male such as a deep voice. His demeanour was of someone who is not assertive and there was a time during the assessment that he cried and we again offered him an opportunity to take a break but he declined this. 'He consistently had a poor posture when sitting [and] talking to us and we took your health condition into consideration, however, he looked as if he was trying to make himself look smaller than he actually is. He told us that he has a condition called Alopecia and this was why he was embarrassed to take off his cap.'
Saudi Gazette
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Nearly 42,000 UK asylum seekers waiting on appeal
LONDON — Almost 42,000 asylum seekers are waiting for an appeal hearing after the Home Office rejected their initial claims, according to analysis of official figures. The Refugee Council said the number is a five-fold increase in two years and the government risks simply moving the asylum crisis from one part of the system to another, with almost 40,000 migrants still housed in hotels. The Home Office said it had doubled the number of asylum seekers receiving an initial decision on their claim and allocated funding for more sitting court days. A spokesperson said the government remains determined to end the use of asylum hotels over time and cut the "unacceptably high" costs of accommodation. The Refugee Council said more asylum seekers' claims are being refused due to legislation introduced by the previous Conservative government, which made it harder to prove genuine refugee status. After the government enacted the Nationality and Borders Act, only four in 10 Afghans were given permission to stay in the second half of last year. Previously, almost all Afghans asking for sanctuary were granted of those rejected are thought likely to be appealing the decision. Currently, Afghans make up the highest nationality accommodated in hotels and those arriving by small boats in the last two chief executive of the Refugee Council, Enver Solomon, has called for better and fairer decision making."Right first-time decision making will ensure refugees are given safety to go on to contribute to communities across the country and those who don't have a right to stay in the UK are removed with dignity and respect," he charity points out that those in the appeals backlog still require accommodation and warns that, without improvements, the potential cost of hotels could be £1.5bn this year.A government spokesperson said: "The asylum system we inherited was not fit for purpose, which is why we are taking urgent action to restart asylum processing and clear the backlog of cases, which will save the taxpayer an estimated £4 billion over the next two years."It is allocating funding for "thousands more sitting days in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber to streamline asylum claims and improve productivity," the statement from the Ministry of Justice show that at the end of 2024 there were 41,987 asylum appeals in the court's backlog, up from 7,173 at the start of Refugee Council's analysis suggests the total number of asylum application appeals lodged last year was a 71% increase on 2023. — BBC
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nearly 42,000 UK asylum seekers waiting on appeal
Almost 42,000 asylum seekers are waiting for an appeal hearing after the Home Office rejected their initial claims, according to analysis of official figures. The Refugee Council said the number is a five-fold increase in two years and the government risks simply moving the asylum crisis from one part of the system to another, with almost 40,000 migrants still housed in hotels. The Home Office said it had doubled the number of asylum seekers receiving an initial decision on their claim and allocated funding for more sitting court days. A spokesperson said the government remains determined to end the use of asylum hotels over time and cut the "unacceptably high" costs of accommodation. The Refugee Council said more asylum seekers' claims are being refused due to legislation introduced by the previous Conservative government, which made it harder to prove genuine refugee status. After the government enacted the Nationality and Borders Act, only four in 10 Afghans were given permission to stay in the second half of last year. Previously, almost all Afghans asking for sanctuary were granted asylum. Many of those rejected are thought likely to be appealing the decision. Currently, Afghans make up the highest nationality accommodated in hotels and those arriving by small boats in the last two years. The chief executive of the Refugee Council, Enver Solomon, has called for better and fairer decision making. "Right first-time decision making will ensure refugees are given safety to go on to contribute to communities across the country and those who don't have a right to stay in the UK are removed with dignity and respect," he said. The charity points out that those in the appeals backlog still require accommodation and warns that, without improvements, the potential cost of hotels could be £1.5bn this year. A government spokesperson said: "The asylum system we inherited was not fit for purpose, which is why we are taking urgent action to restart asylum processing and clear the backlog of cases, which will save the taxpayer an estimated £4 billion over the next two years." It is allocating funding for "thousands more sitting days in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber to streamline asylum claims and improve productivity," the statement added. Statistics from the Ministry of Justice show that at the end of 2024 there were 41,987 asylum appeals in the court's backlog, up from 7,173 at the start of 2023. The Refugee Council's analysis suggests the total number of asylum application appeals lodged last year was a 71% increase on 2023.
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Nearly 42,000 UK asylum seekers waiting on appeal
Almost 42,000 asylum seekers are waiting for an appeal hearing after the Home Office rejected their initial claims, according to analysis of official Refugee Council said the number is a five-fold increase in two years and the government risks simply moving the asylum crisis from one part of the system to another, with almost 40,000 migrants still housed in Home Office said it had doubled the number of asylum seekers receiving an initial decision on their claim and allocated funding for more sitting court days.A spokesperson said the government remains determined to end the use of asylum hotels over time and cut the "unacceptably high" costs of accommodation. The Refugee Council said more asylum seekers' claims are being refused due to legislation introduced by the previous Conservative government, which made it harder to prove genuine refugee the government enacted the Nationality and Borders Act, only four in 10 Afghans were given permission to stay in the second half of last year. Previously, almost all Afghans asking for sanctuary were granted of those rejected are thought likely to be appealing the decision. Currently, Afghans make up the highest nationality accommodated in hotels and those arriving by small boats in the last two chief executive of the Refugee Council, Enver Solomon, has called for better and fairer decision making. "Right first-time decision making will ensure refugees are given safety to go on to contribute to communities across the country and those who don't have a right to stay in the UK are removed with dignity and respect," he charity points out that those in the appeals backlog still require accommodation and warns that, without improvements, the potential cost of hotels could be £1.5bn this year.A government spokesperson said: "The asylum system we inherited was not fit for purpose, which is why we are taking urgent action to restart asylum processing and clear the backlog of cases, which will save the taxpayer an estimated £4 billion over the next two years."It is allocating funding for "thousands more sitting days in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber to streamline asylum claims and improve productivity," the statement from the Ministry of Justice show that at the end of 2024 there were 41,987 asylum appeals in the court's backlog, up from 7,173 at the start of 2023. The Refugee Council's analysis suggests the total number of asylum application appeals lodged last year was a 71% increase on 2023.
