Albanian criminal wins right to stay in UK

An Albanian man, Blendi Axhami, can remain in the UK after a court ruled that his deportation would greatly distress his son, who has a learning disability. Axhami arrived in the UK illegally ten years ago and has a criminal record from Albania. His son, born in 2017, currently lives with his mother. Axhami only sees him once a week. The boy is undergoing evaluation for a learning disability and is treated as if he has autism while waiting for a formal diagnosis. Axhami applied to stay in the UK after his son was born but did not mention his criminal history. This information came to light after he was arrested in 2021 for drug possession. The UK Home Office denied his application in 2022, prompting Axhami to appeal. The Lower Tribunal judge, Angharad Lloyd-Lawrie, determined that Axhami's son would suffer significantly if he were deported. The Home Office challenged this decision, but the Upper Immigration Tribunal upheld the ruling dismissing the appeal. This case is one of many immigration court decisions that have raised concerns. A Home Office spokesperson stated that they are committed to ensuring that foreign criminals are not allowed to remain free in the UK.