Albanian Criminals Avoid Deportation Amid Human Rights Appeals

Erind Koka, a 33-year-old Albanian man, has successfully avoided deportation from the UK after a judge ruled he did not meet the legal definition of a 'foreign criminal,' despite his past conviction for cannabis production. His eight-month prison sentence was deemed insufficient to classify him as such, as he did not fulfill criteria that required a minimum 12-month sentence or serious harm caused by his crime. Koka had attempted to enter the UK illegally multiple times before finally succeeding in 2019, and he argued that deportation would breach his rights to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights, given his partner and daughter reside in the UK. Similarly, another Albanian national, Dritan Mazreku, avoided deportation after a judge determined that removing him would be 'unduly harsh' on his 15-year-old stepson, as physical presence could not be replaced by online communication. The Home Secretary opposed both decisions, arguing that the men could still support their families from Albania, but the judges upheld the rulings favoring the individuals' rights. These cases highlight the complex intersection of immigration law and human rights considerations in the UK.