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DNA tests on asylum seekers were 'dubious', Home Office admits DNA tests on asylum seekers dubious in law, Home Office admits
(about 2 hours later)
Asylum seekers who were subjected to DNA swabs to prove their origins may be able to sue the government after the Home Office admitted that the lawful basis of taking those samples was “dubious”. Asylum seekers who were subjected to DNA swabs to prove their origins may be able to sue the government after the Home Office admitted the lawful basis for taking those samples was “dubious”.
The admission emerged during a legal challenge brought by an unaccompanied child asylum seeker stranded in France who is desperate to be reunited with his older brother, who is a refugee in the UK. The admission emerged during a legal challenge brought by an unaccompanied child asylum seeker stranded in France who was desperate to be reunited with his older brother, a refugee in the UK.
He wanted to use independent DNA testing to prove he and his brother are blood relations. The brothers cannot be identified for legal reasons. He wanted to use independent DNA testing to prove he and his brother were blood relations. The brothers cannot be identified for legal reasons.
The upper tribunal of the immigration and asylum chamber found that the Home Office had failed to comply with its duties following a request from the French government, known as a take charge request, to consider whether the boy, now 17, is the younger brother of the man granted refugee status in the UK. The upper tribunal of the immigration and asylum chamber found that the Home Office had failed to comply with its duties after a request from the French government, known as a take charge request, to consider whether the boy, now 17, is the younger brother of the man granted refugee status in the UK.
The Home Office had refused his request for family reunification under regulations known as Dublin III, believing the two males not to be blood relations.The Home Office had refused his request for family reunification under regulations known as Dublin III, believing the two males not to be blood relations.
The judges found that the two are brothers. They also found that as part of the take charge request, the Home Office should investigate the possibility of DNA testing for the boy in France or alternatively should consider allowing him to come to the UK where a voluntary DNA test could be carried out. The judges found the two are brothers and that as part of the take charge request, the Home Office should investigate the possibility of DNA testing for the boy in France or alternatively should consider allowing him to come to the UK where a voluntary DNA test could be carried out.
The boy argued that as Home Office officials took DNA swabs from asylum seekers in a 2009 pilot scheme, he too should be able to have a DNA test in areas subject to UK immigration law in France: Calais and Dunkirk. The Home Office argued that it had no power in law to take DNA samples and that the lawful basis of the 2009 scheme was “dubious”. The scheme is thought to have operated until March 2011. The boy argued that as Home Office officials took DNA swabs from asylum seekers in a 2009 pilot scheme, he too should be able to have a DNA test in areas subject to UK immigration law in France: Calais and Dunkirk. The Home Office argued that it had no power in law to take DNA samples and that the lawful basis for the 2009 scheme was dubious. The scheme is thought to have operated until March 2011.
Thursday’s judgment states: “However, having sought instructions, Mr Lewis [Home Office counsel] informed us that the lawful basis of the pilot was dubious and that the respondent was unable to identify the particular legal power that enabled immigration officers to take DNA samples under the scheme.”Thursday’s judgment states: “However, having sought instructions, Mr Lewis [Home Office counsel] informed us that the lawful basis of the pilot was dubious and that the respondent was unable to identify the particular legal power that enabled immigration officers to take DNA samples under the scheme.”
Based on this admission from the Home Office, the boy’s solicitor, Jane Ryan from Bhatt Murphy solicitors, called for an investigation into the Home Office’s apparently unlawful DNA testing of asylum seekers. “The Home Office needs to come clean about this suspect scheme and fully investigate its apparent abuse of power,” she said. Based on this admission from the Home Office, the boy’s solicitor, Jane Ryan, from the law firm Bhatt Murphy, called for an investigation into the Home Office’s apparently unlawful DNA testing of asylum seekers. “The Home Office needs to come clean about this suspect scheme and fully investigate its apparent abuse of power,” she said.
She added that an investigation should determine how long the Home Office has been aware of its apparently unlawful conduct, the number of people affected by it and confirmation that those affected would be notified of any claim they might have against the Home Office.She added that an investigation should determine how long the Home Office has been aware of its apparently unlawful conduct, the number of people affected by it and confirmation that those affected would be notified of any claim they might have against the Home Office.
Ryan said DNA testing of asylum seekers as evidence of familial links was not wrong, but that it needed to be conducted in a proper, independent and professional way by doctors, not by Home Office officials.Ryan said DNA testing of asylum seekers as evidence of familial links was not wrong, but that it needed to be conducted in a proper, independent and professional way by doctors, not by Home Office officials.
Home Office justification at the time according to their guidance stated that “there may be a significant percentage of asylum applicants claiming to originate from a country which is not their own in order to further their asylum claim by claiming to be a different nationality.” Home Office justification at the time, according to its guidance, stated: “There may be a significant percentage of asylum applicants claiming to originate from a country which is not their own in order to further their asylum claim by claiming to be a different nationality.”
The tribunal also found that the court, not only the Home Office, has the power to decide if children are telling the truth about having relatives in the UK with whom they want to be reunited.The tribunal also found that the court, not only the Home Office, has the power to decide if children are telling the truth about having relatives in the UK with whom they want to be reunited.
“The case is ground-breaking,” said Ryan. “Where the Home Office disbelieves an asylum-seeking child is related to their relative in the UK, the child will be able to ask the court to decide whether they, the child and their relative(s), are telling the truth and the court may hear oral evidence to determine this.”
The two brothers hope they can be reunited in the UK very soon. The court ordered that the home secretary make a new decision on the take charge request by 3 August.The two brothers hope they can be reunited in the UK very soon. The court ordered that the home secretary make a new decision on the take charge request by 3 August.
Immigration and asylumImmigration and asylum
RefugeesRefugees
MigrationMigration
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