An illegal migrant being deported back to Bangladesh was given a first-class ticket for his flight, GB News understands.
The People’s Channel uncovered last autumn the astonishing story of Mr A, a homeless illegal migrant and convicted criminal who had been asking the Home Office to send him home since March.
Following the involvement of GB News, he was finally returned to his family.
However, it has emerged that he was issued with a first-class ticket from London to Doha, the first leg of his journey.
Mr A had come to the United Kingdom legally in 2013 on a student visa.
He failed to finish his university course and then stayed for years, working illegally.
He had later become homeless in Southend and turned to shoplifting.
By this point, he was keen to return home to his family in Bangladesh, where his father is ill.
However, despite help from former Tory MP Anna Firth, the current Southend Labour MP David Burton-Sampson and various local organisations, he was still stuck here when GB News interviewed him last autumn.
Sitting down with the People’s Channel, he said: “Who would love to stay in the streets when they can live in their house in Bangladesh?
“If you tell me, my flight is ready? I can go now. I want to go now. I’m ready to go.
“I have nothing, no one to worry here. I got everything back home.”
Asked why his family in Bangladesh cannot pay for a plane ticket home, the migrant said they could not afford it.
He added: “My dad is a heart patient. He had a stroke because of me.
“Being in this kind of situation.”
Though he was finally returned home, GB News understands it was with a first-class ticket.
The Home Office initially insisted this was incorrect.
However, the department later admitted “The ticket said first – which was an administrative error in the printing of the ticket.”
GB News has been attempting to get data on the costs of flights for illegal migrants and how many may have been sent first class since the start of the year.
Multiple Freedom of Information requests have been rejected on the grounds of cost.
The Home Office insists that despite a First Class ticket being issued, “Mr A***** departed in economy.”
GB News will continue to fight to learn whether other illegal migrants are being deported on first or business-class tickets.
The People’s Channel will continue to investigate the matter due to the importance of taxpayers’ money being spent wisely.