What’s happening here? Immigration law analysis THREAD (usual disclaimer - see end)> 1/
Home Office officials think this 33 yr old ethnic Albanian man isn’t originally from Kosovo (Serbia) but Albania. They’ll claim he got UK indefinite leave based on a false claim he made aged 14, which means he shouldn’t have been naturalised as British. 2/
In 1998-9 100s of 1000s of ethnic Albanians fled Kosovo for Europe because of persecution and war. Significant numbers came to UK. Alongside them came some citizens of Albania posing as Kosovars. 3/
People who reached UK & were assessed by Home Office to be ethnic Albanian Kosovars were given leave to remain because it was too dangerous to return. Eventually, people were given permanent residence and - subject to criminal record checks - British citizenship. 4/
Now, Home Office officials want to unravel their decisions of the 1990s for people they *now* think are Albanian citizens. But knowing Home Office may lose an appeal, they wait until these British citizens travel abroad to deprive them of citizenship. 5/
The ‘ Independent’ report talks about deprivation of citizenship *and* “losing passport”. My guess is it’s the first - officials have decided to take away this man’s British citizenship - because that’s what happens in these cases. 6/
If so, then he is no longer a British. citizen. He has a right of appeal. But officials will argue that he has no right to return to UK until that’s been decided. The way Ministers have written rules means they’ve won previous court hearings about that. 7/
Remember: Home Office officials are overwhelmed by work. People stay in detention (at cost of £100 per night) because officials can’t organise hostel accommodation. Asylum-seekers can wait years for a decision. 8/
But Home Office has capacity to chase down people with long-settled lives. Because of what they said decades ago.
These are Ministerial priorities. 9/
These are Ministerial priorities. 9/
Disclaimer: This thread is based on the newspaper report & professional knowledge of other cases. I have no direct knowledge of the case. 10/10
Deprivation of citizenship on grounds of fraud, is under s40(3) British Nationality Act 1981 legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/61/… 
For context, see this court judgment in 3 cases of Albanian citizens who had falsely claimed to be from Kosovo. bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/…
