Kosovan criminal who stole from disabled people can’t be deported as she is ‘culturally and socially integrated’ in Britain, judge rules
A UK immigration tribunal has rejected the Home Office’s attempt to deport Barbara Osmanovic, a Kosovan national with a long record of offending. The judge found that deportation would be unduly harsh because she is socially and culturally integrated in Britain and would face significant difficulties in Kosovo.
Osmanovic, 40, came to the UK as a child in 2000 and was granted leave to remain in 2006. She has 13 convictions for 29 offences, including a 2023 sentence of two and a half years for theft, fraud, attempted burglary and possessing a knife; one theft involved taking a disabled woman’s purse and spending £1,640 on her card. The tribunal cited her lack of Albanian, support networks and access to documents for healthcare in Kosovo, as well as the risk she would be homeless.
In short
- Tribunal rejects deportation of Barbara Osmanovic.
- She has 13 convictions for 29 offences.
- Judge cited her integration and likely hardship in Kosovo.
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The case for
Those supporting the ruling could argue that deportation after a person has spent most of her life in Britain would be disproportionate if she lacks language skills, family support and realistic access to housing or healthcare in Kosovo. The tribunal’s role is to apply immigration and human-rights law to the individual circumstances, and her childhood arrival and long-standing social ties may weigh heavily despite the seriousness of her crimes.
The case against
Those supporting deportation could argue that repeated offending, including theft and fraud against vulnerable people, gives the public a strong interest in removal and in protecting confidence in the law. They may contend that cultural integration and hardship on return should not outweigh that interest where the person is an adult with a substantial criminal record, provided deportation is lawful and the return conditions are properly assessed.
Explained simply
The Home Office is the government department responsible for immigration decisions and can seek to deport foreign nationals convicted of serious offences. Such cases may be considered by an immigration tribunal, which weighs the public interest in deportation against the person’s circumstances and the likely impact of removal.
Barbara Osmanovic is a Kosovan national who came to Britain as a child and has lived here for many years. Her convictions include theft and fraud, including an offence against a disabled woman; the tribunal also considered her language skills, support networks and practical circumstances if she returned to Kosovo.
The case concerns how immigration rules apply to someone with both a serious criminal record and long-standing ties to Britain. It also raises questions about the difficulties a person might face on return, including finding housing and accessing healthcare.