European judges ‘open the floodgates’ to illegal immigrants after passport ruling
'Insane' Euro court judgement makes a mockery of proper border controls, critics say
A SHOCK ruling by Euro judges yesterday opened the floodgates to illegal immigrants.
They decreed that it was wrong to have locked up a woman caught with a fake passport at the Channel Tunnel.
She was trying to get to the UK when the French nabbed her.
Justice Minister Dominic Raab said it made a mockery of proper checks.
This ruling threatens the integrity of our borders.
Dominic Raab
The “insane” European Court of Justice ruling was also slammed by Ukip’s Stephen Wolf.
He said it “blows a hole in David Cameron’s argument that the EU makes us more secure”.
The Ghanaian woman, Selina Affum, was held in jail by France after being caught on a coach from Belgium bound for London.
The Luxembourg court ruled illegals entering one EU state from another on the Continent cannot be jailed.
They must be left free while deportation proceedings take place.
As a last resort for those likely to flee or who pose a public danger, they can go to an immigration centre.
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Pro-Brexit campaigners said it was a green light for the thousands of illegals wanting to get here from France to keep trying.
Mr Raab said: “This ruling threatens the integrity of our borders.
“It increases the risks that illegal immigrants will be able to enter the UK because it weakens the ability of EU governments to put in place proper checks.”
The judges not only said that jailing the Ghanaian woman was “not permitted”, but that she should have been given up to 30 days to go home of her own free will.
She has vanished since her 2013 arrest. Her lawyer admitted: “She could be anywhere now — Belgium, France or Britain.”
The International Organisation of Migration said: “The ruling is important. It sends a clear signal the use of detention should be used less and as a last resort.”
Last night No10 said it did not apply to the UK anyway — only to the passport-free “Schengen zone” on the Continent.
A spokesman said: “We are exempt from this directive.”
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