Migrant couple who can’t speak English allowed to live in the UK at taxpayers’ expense. The Reason Will Shock You

A migrant couple from El Salvador has been allowed to stay in the UK at taxpayers’ expense after claiming they couldn’t continue their relationship in their home country due to gang threats. The man fled El Salvador after being threatened by a gang in his girlfriend’s town.

He was granted asylum in the UK because returning to El Salvador would put him at risk of persecution. His girlfriend later joined him in the UK and was allowed to stay under human rights laws, which protect her right to a family life.

The couple cannot work in the UK and do not speak English. They receive £49.18 per week and housing support. An immigration tribunal ruled that their right to stay together in the UK was more important than strict immigration controls.

This case is one of several where migrants have used human rights laws to avoid deportation. For example, an Albanian criminal avoided deportation by claiming his son didn’t like foreign chicken nuggets, and a Pakistani sex offender was allowed to stay because deporting him would be “too harsh” on his children.

Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, criticized the decision, saying gang violence in El Salvador has decreased recently. He argued that human rights laws were meant to protect families in war zones, not to be used as a loophole for immigration.

The couple initially had their asylum claims rejected in 2020, but the man later won asylum on appeal. His girlfriend’s claim was also rejected at first, but she successfully appealed using human rights laws. The court accepted that the man faced a real risk of persecution in El Salvador, where his cousin had “disappeared” after gang threats. The judges said it was unfortunate that international protection was needed in such cases but agreed the couple should stay in the UK.