UK tribunals block deportations of foreign criminals over daughters' mental health

An immigration tribunal in Britain ruled that deporting an Albanian migrant with multiple drug‑related convictions would be "unduly harsh" because his 13‑year‑old daughter suffers from nightmares and persistent bedwetting. Shpresim Koka, 38, had his removal order sent back for reconsideration after the tribunal found the child's condition worsened during periods of separation.

In a separate case, a Pakistani man known only as IA, 51, was also allowed to remain in the UK after a tribunal concluded that deporting him would severely damage the mental health of his 14‑year‑old daughter, who has experienced disrupted eating, sleep and schooling. Upper Tribunal Judge Joseph Neville described the move as "unduly harsh". The decisions come as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood seeks tighter immigration rules to limit similar human‑rights claims by foreign criminals.

Both rulings underscore the UK's use of child‑welfare considerations to pause deportations of individuals with criminal convictions.