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16/09/2021
New Home Office Deportation Rules 'Inhumane'
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has said that she "will have no part in inhumane" new rules by the British Home Office targeting rough sleepers for deportation.
The new measure allows the Home Office to deport homeless non-nationals on the grounds of rough sleeping, even if they have previously been granted permission to stay.
Minister Hargey outlined her opposition directly to the Home Office. She added: "The very few people sleeping rough here need our help to resolve their issues and move on with their lives, not face threats of deportation. Deporting them to an uncertain future in another country is no way to address rough sleeping, it is a failure to address rough sleeping.
"The decision to remove non-nationals for simply rough sleeping is an inhumane policy devoid of compassion and fairness. I will have no part in it. I have told the organisations that my Department funds my view on this and I know I have their support on that.
"My Department will continue to work closely with the Housing Executive to monitor how the Home Office policy affects those who are rough sleeping here.
"The Housing Executive and homeless providers will also continue to ensure that any person wherever possible who is rough sleeping is engaging with support services, because it is the right thing to do, and because now more so than ever, it will protect them from this ill-conceived and cruel policy."
The new measure allows the Home Office to deport homeless non-nationals on the grounds of rough sleeping, even if they have previously been granted permission to stay.
Minister Hargey outlined her opposition directly to the Home Office. She added: "The very few people sleeping rough here need our help to resolve their issues and move on with their lives, not face threats of deportation. Deporting them to an uncertain future in another country is no way to address rough sleeping, it is a failure to address rough sleeping.
"The decision to remove non-nationals for simply rough sleeping is an inhumane policy devoid of compassion and fairness. I will have no part in it. I have told the organisations that my Department funds my view on this and I know I have their support on that.
"My Department will continue to work closely with the Housing Executive to monitor how the Home Office policy affects those who are rough sleeping here.
"The Housing Executive and homeless providers will also continue to ensure that any person wherever possible who is rough sleeping is engaging with support services, because it is the right thing to do, and because now more so than ever, it will protect them from this ill-conceived and cruel policy."
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Homelessness in Northern Ireland has risen by 32% in the past five years, according to a report. The NI Audit Office's (NIAO) 'Homelessness In Northern Ireland' report also found that the government's strategy to tackle the issue had "limited success". Almost 12,000 households were accepted as homeless in the past year.
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