Members of Stamford Hill’s orthodox community have criticised immigration minister, Caroline Nokes, after she failed to prevent an Israeli woman from being refused entry to the UK.
The pregnant woman and her British husband, who both wish to remain anonymous, were travelling to visit her family for a Jewish holiday.
On Friday morning, the woman was detained at Heathrow after confusion arose over her marriage status. She was sent home on Saturday evening.
The couple were married in the UK under Jewish but not English law. According to the local group that lobbied for the woman’s release, the Jewish Community Council of North London (JCC), the couple offered different answers to border officials when questioned on their marriage status.
According to the JCC, Ms Nokes dismissed several pleas by Stamford Hill rabbis and the JCC for her to intervene over what they saw as the couple’s “minor mistake”.
“The family was ripped apart,” said Levi Schapiro, head of the JCC. “They were literally crying the entire Shabbat. Nokes could have been a hero. It’s not acceptable what she did.”
The JCC said the couple visited the UK every few weeks and had no intention of staying, carrying return tickets dated 4 October.
Mr Schapiro said rabbis gave residents rare permission to use telephones on the Shabbat to contact the Home Office, a decision only taken when someone is considered “in danger”.
A Home Office spokesperson said it does not routinely comment on individual cases but each border official “reserves the right to refuse entry” to passengers if there are “inconsistencies” in the information they provide.
The JCC has claimed that while in detention the woman was fed “unapproved” kosher food and could therefore only eat fruit and vegetables.
Both parents of the couple said, “we and the Jewish community have been left in utter shock and disappointment by Caroline Nokes and her lack of understanding of Jewish culture. Our children entered the country in good faith with excitement and joy looking forward to joining the family for the Sukkot holiday. Sadly everything took a turn for the worse.”
Rabbi Roth, member of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations said the woman’s treatment was “an outrage.”
Mr Schapiro contrasted Ms Nokes’ conduct with that of Brandon Lewis, immigration minister in 2017, saying he regularly intervened in such cases.
MP Bob Blackman, an officer of Conservative Friends of Israel, said: “I spoke with the Jewish Community Council on Saturday night and was informed of the matter. Once I had sufficient information I duly contacted the immigration minister, Caroline Nokes, to query the case.”
The Israeli embassy did not take up an offer to comment.
