Govt threats to deport EU citizens are appalling

Responding to comments by Branden Lewis that EU citizens living in the UK could face deportation, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Christine Jardine said:

"I am absolutely appalled. I have just been at a school where a Hungarian-born pupil told me she was scared about Brexit, and now I learn that the Conservative Government is threatening to deport people like her.

"Brandon Lewis has finally confirmed what we've known all along: Boris Johnson has no intention of keeping his promise to automatically guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in the UK.

"No one seriously believes the Home Office will have granted Settled Status to all 3.6 million EU citizens by the Conservatives' arbitrary December 2020 deadline. Thousands will inevitably be left effectively undocumented - and now the Government is saying it will deport them.

"That is totally unacceptable. EU citizens are our friends and neighbours, our carers and families, and Liberal Democrats demand better for them. That's why we're fighting to stop Brexit and prevent another Windrush-style scandal."