Illegal Iraqi migrant avoids deportation because he lost his phone and ID
An illegal Iraqi migrant has avoided deportation from the UK after claiming he had lost his phone and identity documents.
An illegal Iraqi migrant has avoided deportation from the UK after claiming he had lost his phone and identity documents.
The man, who allegedly left Iraq while facing arrest for exam fraud, claimed an agent had thrown away his ID and phone, meaning he would not be able to get in touch with family members if deported.
Speaking at an immigration tribunal where he was granted anonymity, the man reportedly said he could not remember his familys phone numbers, which would prevent him from getting help to replace his identity cards and return to Iraq.
He had been allegedly threatened with arrest in Iraq before fleeing to the UK after being caught delivering test papers to students before they sat an exam.
And he has since had his appeal to remain in the UK accepted by the Home Office even though there were inconsistencies in his story.
One major inconsistency flagged at the tribunal was the Iraqi claimed his ID card had been thrown away while he travelled to the UK, but he had previously told immigration authorities that he left it behind in Iraq.
Though his initial plea to avoid deportation was upheld by an upper immigration tribunal due to faults being found in the first judges analysis of the case, the mans appeal will reportedly be heard again by a new tribunal.
While studying in Iraq, the man took a part-time job delivering packages for business clients who appeared to be wealthy and drove cars with tinted windows, according to the The Telegraph.
Stock Image: Speaking at an immigration tribunal where he was granted anonymity, the Iraqi claimed an agent had thrown away his ID and phone, meaning he would not be able to get in touch with family members if deported
He has since had his appeal to remain in the UK accepted by the Home Office even though there were inconsistencies in his story
Stock Image: The man reportedly said he could not remember his familys phone numbers, which would prevent him from getting help to replace his identity cards and return to Iraq
After one particular drop-off, he is said to have been informed by one businessman that the police were looking to arrest him after he was caught on CCTV dropping off a package.
Reportedly confused, he asked why he should be concerned for simply doing his job and was told the box contained papers for the following days examinations.
The Iraqi, reportedly scared he would be blamed for supplying students with the answers and thus committing fraud, fled to the UK after spending time with human rights organisation Ashti.
In the first hearing claiming refugee protection, the court is said to have found further contradictions in his story, including how long he said he had spent with the human rights group.
These inconsistencies came amid the other claims his phone and documentation had been thrown away.
Notably, any Iraqis who arrive to the country without the documentation this man claimed to have lost, face arrest and interrogation on arrival.
His plea for protection in the UK was rejected by the lower tribunal due to the alleged flaws in the story, with the judge also saying deportation would not breach his rights in Article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights.
But the upper tribunal believed there were errors in the judges ruling, particularly over the Iraqis time spent with the human rights group.
Upper Tribunal Judge David Kelly said the migrants appeal against deportation should be reheard due an over-analysis on the inconsistencies in his story - which he claims influenced the courts decision over whether he would face arrest in Iraq.
This comes as another blow for Labour looking to deport illegal migrants, after it was reported that there are a record 41,987 outstanding immigration appeals, with the majority of these on a human rights basis.
MailOnline has approached the Home Office for comment.