RP001642018

This is an appeal against the decision of Judge of the First-tier Tribunal Parkes ('the judge'), promulgated on 28 October 2019, dismissing MA's appeal against the Secretary of State's decisions refusing his protection and human rights claim and deciding that he had ceased to qualify for refugee status. Both decisions were set out in a letter dated 11 October 2018, though the latter was recorded as having been determined on 4 April 2018.

MA is a national of Somalia born in April 1977. He entered the UK on 11 November 1994 with his mother and siblings to join his father, who had Indefinite Leave to Remain ('ILR') and who had resided in the UK for 31 years. On 12 December 1995, MA's mother was recognised as a refugee and MA was recognised as a refugee. The family members were each granted ILR.

At the time of MA's entry to the UK, it was noted that his family were from Burao, a city in Somaliland. In his application for a Home Office travel document in 1996, MA's place of birth was recorded as Burao. When he applied for a replacement travel document in 2012, the Secretary of State recorded his place of birth as Mogadishu on his biometric residence card and travel document.

MA appealed the Secretary of State's decision to the First-tier Tribunal under s. 82 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (the 2002 Act).

At [18] to [21], the judge summarised the oral evidence from MA and a supporting witness. MA claimed that his friends would be unable to assist him now that he was out of prison and had a job and that some were too busy to attend the hearing. The witness indicated that the appellant's friends had sent him between £30 and £50 a month when he was in prison. The witness himself had financial problems and would not be able to continue to support the appellant.