A Jamaican man is contending that he has been wrongfully detained in the United Kingdom ahead of Wednesday’s deportation flight to his native country.
The Jamaican has now moved to take legal action against the Bristish Home Office.
A report in Britain’s Independent newspaper said 33-year-old James Matthews was awaiting the outcome of his application for leave to remain when seven immigration officers stormed his home, claiming that he was in the UK illegally.
He was taken to an immigration removal centre.
The former banker applied for leave in July 2020 to remain in the UK on the basis of his relationship with a British citizen, but the UK Home Office said the application was refused in February.
But Matthews is maintaining that his legal representatives were not notified or served with the refusal decision.
As a result, his solicitors argue that he is still lawfully resident in the UK with an in-country right of appeal.
In a pre-action letter sent to the Home Office on Thursday the solicitors requested the immediate removal of their client from detention and the cancellation of his deportation order by Friday evening.
The Home Office reportedly failed to respond by the deadline.
The Independent newspaper has learned Matthews’ solicitors will pursue further action before Wednesday’s deportation flight to Jamaica.
Some 25 Jamaican-born individuals are set to be deported to the island.
