She was told that her Home Office documents were invalid, according to EU Helpers, and detained overnight at Luton airport on December 26 in spite of providing the necessary paperwork, as reported by The Guardian.
She also mentioned how being deported from the UK had a significant negative influence on her life; she was meant to resume her employment and complete her veterinary nursing apprenticeship, but the deportation prevented her from doing so.
The Labour MP for Mid Bedfordshire, Alistair Strathern, stated he was seeking information regarding the issue from the Home Office.
Due to inadequate documentation, Maria's application for the EU settlement system, which she submitted late in 2023, was denied in June. Nevertheless, she had applied for an administrative review and obtained a certificate of application (CoA) from the Home Office, which permitted her to work in the UK while her application for a settlement scheme was being considered.
However, Maria's documentation was challenged by border officials, which resulted in her expulsion. The Home Office made it clear that, as per the exit agreement, the problem is with proving one's right to remain in the UK, not one's right to work.
The Home Office states that those who are denied admission at the border may be held in custody until they are removed, but they might not be protected from re-entry by a deportation order.
According to the Home Office, a certificate of application does not give an EU citizen the freedom to enter and exit the nation, and border officials have the right to ask for further proof of residency before December 2020 because a certificate of application alone is insufficient.
Maria is seeking legal counsel, and Strathern highlights that in order to keep the public's trust in border security, border officials must operate legally. According to the Home Office, border personnel prioritize border safety and security and base their choices on the information provided by passengers rather than their nationality.