Illegal immigrants who have been in the UK for at least 20 years will still be able to apply to settle on human rights grounds under Government plans.
Theresa May wants to make clear the right to a family life enshrined in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights is not absolute.
She will scrap the current rules allowing settlement after 14 years, but anyone in the UK illegally for 20 years will still be able to apply to start a 10-year route.
The Home Secretary also wants to curb the powers of judges to block the deportation of foreign criminals on human rights grounds.
A Commons debate next week will seek the backing of Parliament for guidelines spelling out how courts should apply the convention in assessing cases.
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