A migrant who was jailed for growing a cannabis farm has been spared deportation from the UK after claiming that he no longer speaks his native language.
Clirim Kujaj, 30, an ethnic Albanian who was raised in Serbia and moved to the UK aged 13, argued that he would not be able to converse with anyone if he was sent back to his home country as he no longer spoke Serbian.
His lawyers maintained that if deported, he would not be able to reintegrate back into society, thus breaching his human rights.
Immigration tribunal judge Fiona Lindsley allowed Kukaj’s appeal “on human rights grounds”, however his inability to speak the language has been questioned.
Clirim Kujaj is an ethnic Albanian who was raised in Serbia and moved to the UK aged 13
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
The Home Office has claimed that he lives with his brother, who is also Serbian and that he had spoken Serbian until he was 13.
They also argued that “Albanian is a language spoken in Serbia and it is argued that this is a factor that would assist his integration”.
The ruling is likely to spark calls for a revival of human rights laws.
A senior Conservative MP told The Telegraph: “This demonstrates why we need urgent reform of the asylum system and human rights laws to allow the rapid and effective deportation of dangerous criminals.”
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The 30-year-old entered Britain illegally at the age of 13 before being granted indefinite leave to remain seven years later.
In May 2020, Kujaj was arrested at a cannabis farm in Cambridgeshire.
Police recovered 580 plants worth almost £500,000 at the scene.
He was then sentenced to 18 months in prison at Cambridge Crown Court after pleading guilty to involvement in the production of the plant.
Police recovered 580 plants worth with a street value of almost £500,000 at the scene
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
It was part of large-scale, organised drug dealing, according to police.
Det Con Josh Coe said: “Organised crime groups can generate large sums of money with little regard for those who are forced to produce the cannabis as well as the landlords who are left with severely damaged premises.”
Three months into his jail sentence, then Home Secretary Priti Patel, wrote to the 30-year-old to inform him that he would be sent back to Serbia.
However, his lawyers promptly challenged this with a human rights claim. Whilst it was initially denied, a successful appeal was lodged the following year.