Britain Increasingly Invokes Power to Disown Its Citizens

More on the issue of citizenship revocation in the UK and that the House of Lords rejected the proposed amendment that would have allowed revocation in cases where the person would be left stateless. Whether or not one agrees with revocation in terrorism or related cases, the lack of due process and full ministerial discretion (no role for the courts) is of concern. The proposed Canadian version is through the Federal Court; the Minister only has discretion in cases of fraud:

The issue is beginning to stir public debate. A government-sponsored amendment expanding the practice to naturalized citizens who have no other nationality sailed through the House of Commons this year. But on Monday, in a rare act of parliamentary rebellion, the House of Lords rejected the amendment and asked instead for a joint committee of both houses to examine whether the additional powers are necessary. The draft legislation will now return to the House of Commons.

Britain typically strips people of citizenship when they are outside the country. The procedure requires only that the home secretary find that stripping someone of citizenship would be “conducive to the public good,” then sign a deprivation order and send a letter to the person’s last known address. Loss of citizenship is effective immediately. It can be challenged in court, but that is a difficult task in most cases, given the inability of a targeted person to return to Britain for any proceedings.

Britain Increasingly Invokes Power to Disown Its Citizens – NYTimes.com.