The UK Home Office has come under scrutiny following the death of Sudharsan Ithayachandran, a 41-year-old Sri Lankan man, after his deportation to his home country.
Ithayachandran, who admitted to using false documents and working illegally at Tesco, was deported from the UK on December 24, 2019, leaving behind his deaf wife, Subatra, and two children, aged eight and nine.
His wife and children are British citizens, and his deportation coincided with his wedding anniversary.
According to a report by the UK Guardian on May 27, during an immigration tribunal ruling in November 2023, Judge Bonavero had accepted Ithayachandran’s appeal, granting him the right to live with his family in the UK.
However, the Home Office was accused of delaying the issuance of a return visa, forcing Ithayachandran to live in perilous conditions in Sri Lanka.
The International Justice and Truth Project’s report, “Disappearance, Torture and Sexual Violence of Tamils 2015 – 2022,” highlighted the harsh circumstances Ithayachandran faced.
Ithayachandran, a member of the Tamil heritage in Sri Lanka, was represented by legal counsel from MTC Solicitors, who began judicial review proceedings against the Home Office over the delay.
Tragically, on May 19, 2024, Ithayachandran was found collapsed at his accommodation in Sri Lanka and later died from sepsis after being taken to the hospital.
His family blamed the Home Office, attributing his death to deep depression caused by his separation from his children.
They noted that he was not eating or taking care of himself properly. His mother-in-law, Yasadora Nagendra, described him as “the pillar of the family” and expressed grief over the loss, believing that the Home Office’s actions led to his death.
Nagendra stated, “He was treated in a very unfair way by the Home Office. He was so depressed that even after he won his case last November, the Home Office delayed making arrangements for his return to the UK. He couldn’t understand why he still had to wait to come back to his family.”
Lou Calvey, director of Asylum Matters, demanded answers, questioning why Ithayachandran was deported despite his clear rights to remain and why the Home Office delayed implementing the court ruling.
A spokesperson from the Home Office responded, stating that “all deportation orders are considered on a case-by-case basis, based on the evidence provided.
Once an appeal has been allowed against the refusal to revoke a deportation order, the responsibility of applying for entry clearance to the UK lies with the individual and their representatives.”
This tragic case raises serious concerns about the handling of deportation orders and the well-being of those affected by such decisions.
