More than a dozen migrants allowed to REMAIN in UK despite cheating on citizenship test

The People's Channel now understands that despite seven of the 14 being refused nationality or permanent residence, none have yet been removed from the UK.

One is being considered for deprivation of their British Citizenship while five have not submitted any further application.

In addition, it is understood one of the migrant test applicants was allowed to reapply, with the Home Office now considering their application.

Maurice, 61, was jailed for four years and six months for pretending to be 13 different men and women with the help of wigs and false documents in order to take the citizenship tests between June 1, 2022 and August 14, 2023.

A Home Office spokesman said: "Maurice's conviction shows that this Government will use every tool at its disposal to root out abhorrent immigration offenders and ensure they face the full force of the law.

"Maurice used wigs and sophisticated disguises to sit the Life in the UK test on behalf of 14 applicants in an attempt to cheat our immigration system and evade detection from law enforcement. She now faces over four years behind bars."

The 24-question test is a requirement for anyone seeking to obtain ILR or naturalisation as a British citizen and is aimed at "proving the applicant has sufficient knowledge of British values, history and society", according to the Home Office.

During her sentence hearing, Maurice's defence lawyer, Stephen Akinsanya, told the court she was not the mastermind of the scam but the offences could potentially rise to "affecting national security if people are passing tests when they have no right to be here".

Labour minister, Seema Malhotra, said at the time the fraudster had used "sophisticated disguises to sit the Life in the UK test on behalf of over 14 genuine applicants in an attempt to gain them British citizenship and evade detection from law enforcement".

Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Migration Control, said the status of the individuals "shows the system is failing".

He told the People's Channel: "The law is clear that citizenship must be denied to those who obtained it through the use of fraud.

"The fact officials are still considering some of these cases, rather than dismissing them outright and removing the individuals from the country, shows that the system is failing.

"The Home Office has a duty to uphold the sanctity of British citizenship, not to award it to those who have cheated the system.

"Questions must now be asked as to how many others have used fraudulent methods to obtain a passport but faced no repercussions.

"These people are con artists and unworthy of calling themselves a British citizen. It is time we were far more discerning when deciding who we allow to become British citizens."

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called on the individuals to be removed from the country, adding "this is fraud".

"British citizenship is a privilege, not an automatic right.

"That is why the Conservatives will double the period of time a person will have to be in this country before they can claim ILR," the Conservative MP said.

"We would also extend the time to apply for British citizenship from 12 months to five years.

"Any individual who is found to have obtained ILR or citizenship on the basis of false information would have their status revoked. The system must be fair to British taxpayers."

GB News also understands the Home Office will launch investigations with a view to removing leave from anyone who has used deception to secure British status.

Maurice pleaded guilty to 13 counts of fraud, a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud and two counts of possession of another person’s identity documents in February.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court in May, District Judge Anthony Callaway, described Maurice’s actions as "wholesale assault" on the immigration system and there was a "clear advantage" to people who wanted to progress towards citizenship without following all the procedures.

The court heard that Maurice had attended a "variety of centres" across the country to take the citizenship tests, including in London, Stratford, Luton, Hounslow, Reading, Oxford, Nottingham and Milton Keynes.

Provisional driving licences were found at her home following her arrest earlier this year.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter