Home Office Highlights New Powers

As reported on these pages ('More Sections of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 Come Into Force', 21/8/06), more sections of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 came into force yesterday.

There are many new provisions which are now effective, but the Home Office has highlighted on its website the new restricted rights of appeal for non-EEA nationals who are to be deported for reasons of national security (section 7) and other sections relating to biometric passports (section 27).

From yesterday, persons being deported for reasons of national security will only be able to appeal from within the UK on human rights grounds. Any other ground will have to be argued once the person has been deported.

This with other sections of the Act has promoted the Home Office Minister Tony McNulty to say that 'By taking this legislation through Parliament we have strengthened our ability to deal more swiftly with those individuals who pose a threat to the UK's national security, withdrawing their right to stay in the country while they appeal against deportation'.