Case summaries
Judicial review to challenge the failure/refusal of the Secretary of State for the Home Department (“SoS”) to determine the application of the applicant’s spouse and two youngest children for family reunification in the UK on the following grounds: a failure to apply the SoS published policy; irrationality; breach of all the family members’ rights under Art. 8 ECHR; and (regarding the two children in the UK), breach of the duties owed under s.55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (“the 2009 Act”).
The Upper Tribunal found that:
1) the Home Office family reunification policy embraces a series of flexible possibilities for proof of identity;
2) the reunion applications were not examined and determined which involves a public law misdemeanour within the applicant’s grounds for challenge; and
3) in any case where withdrawal or a consent order is proposed judicial scrutiny and adjudication are required.
Bidoons in Kuwait are not issued with ID documents and are denied work, school and medical care. Despite the quality of the documents the applicant submitted he was considered to have established his affiliation as an unregistered Bidoon. The Court found that he had a well-founded fear of being subjected to further persecution as an unregistered Bidoon and that he qualified for refugee status. He was granted permanent residence as a refugee.