In a distressing development, a Greek Cypriot man has been forcibly removed from the UK and put on a plane to Amsterdam, despite being caught in a massive backlog of post-Brexit residency applications at the Home Office. The abrupt deportation of Costa Koushiappis, 39, with a mere three days’ notice has sent shockwaves through the EU citizen community and raised serious questions about the UK’s adherence to the withdrawal agreement.
Koushiappis, who arrived in the UK in 2017 before Brexit, found himself entangled in the Home Office’s bureaucratic quagmire after returning to the country in 2021 following an absence due to health issues and Covid-19 lockdowns. His application for pre-settled status, a crucial requirement for EU citizens wishing to remain in the UK post-Brexit, was rejected in October 2022. Exercising his right to an administrative review, Koushiappis submitted a request for reconsideration on November 2nd, only to be informed that the decision could take a staggering two years due to the overwhelming backlog of cases.
Forcible Removal Sparks Outrage
As Koushiappis was escorted onto the plane by Border Force officials, he expressed his bewilderment and despair, stating, “I am here with the Border Force. They have all my documents. I can’t talk about how I feel because if I do will have a breakdown.” The heart-wrenching scene of Koushiappis bidding farewell to his friends and colleagues at the Two Wheels motorbike franchise where he worked has left many in disbelief at the callousness of the deportation process.
“Why give someone three days to pack up their life? You would think they would at least give them 28 days so he could mount a legal case. It was absolutely heartbreaking.”
Stuart West-Gray, Koushiappis’s employer
Legal Challenge and Accusations of Withdrawal Agreement Breach
Koushiappis’s lawyer, Andrew Jordan from the charity Settled, has accused the Home Office of breaching the withdrawal agreement, arguing that due process was not followed in his client’s case. Jordan pointed out that the agreement does not include provisions for exercising administrative review or appeal rights from outside the UK, and the Border Force’s decision to remove Koushiappis disregards his right to have his case reviewed and appealed before a judge.
“The whole point of the withdrawal agreement is to allow people here to have their rights protected here in the UK. It was never envisaged they could be removed and then have matters dealt with while outside the country.”
Andrew Jordan, immigration lawyer
Jordan has vowed to take Koushiappis’s case to the EU, arguing that the Home Office’s actions constitute a clear violation of the protections enshrined in the withdrawal agreement for EU citizens residing in the UK before Brexit. The case has once again brought to the fore the precarious position of EU nationals navigating the post-Brexit landscape and the challenges they face in securing their residency rights.
Calls for Clarity and Compassion
As the fallout from Koushiappis’s deportation continues, calls are growing for the Home Office to provide greater clarity on the rights of EU citizens and to adopt a more compassionate approach in dealing with residency applications. The massive backlog of cases, coupled with the seemingly arbitrary nature of some decisions, has left many EU nationals living in a state of constant anxiety and uncertainty.
The case has also cast a harsh light on the human cost of the bureaucratic quagmire that has engulfed the Home Office in the wake of Brexit. Critics argue that the department’s inability to process applications in a timely and efficient manner is leading to the unnecessary suffering of individuals and families who have made the UK their home.
As Koushiappis begins his unwanted exile in Amsterdam, his case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead for EU citizens in the UK and the urgent need for a more humane and transparent approach to post-Brexit immigration policy. The eyes of Europe will be watching closely as this latest chapter in the Brexit saga unfolds, with the potential to further strain the already fraught relationship between the UK and the EU.
