Currently the Lieutenant-Governor rules on matters concerning applications for asylum and court recommendations for deportation. However, in the UK similar laws fall under the remit of the Home Secretary.
Yesterday, States Members voted 40 votes to five to bring Jersey’s system in line with the UK.
The relevant amendments to the Island’s immigration laws will now be passed to the Privy Council for consideration.
The proposition to change the system was lodged just months after Iranian Amir Merikhi was granted asylum in the UK by the then Lieutenant-Governor, General Sir John McColl, after he was found in the boot of a car by Customs officials at the Harbour.
During this week’s debate, which was proposed by Home Affairs Minister Kristina Moore, Senator Gorst said the transfer of functions was an ‘absolutely natural development of Jersey and an enhancement to our democratic policies’.
He also hit out at ‘colleagues on the left’ – particularly Reform Jersey – who spoke out against the proposition because they said it was politicising something which did not need to be.
Senator Gorst said he ‘never thought’ he would hear the day when his colleagues on the left argued against a democratic decision being made by a politically accountable individual.
Responding to that criticism, Reform Jersey chairman Deputy Sam Mézec said that the current arrangement with the Lieutenant-Governor was ‘perfectly acceptable’ in a democratic society.
