en 
Dmitry Lima is the son of Portuguese emigrants, who moved to England 30 years ago. The man was born in Lambeth, south of London, England and does not know how to speak Portuguese.
Dmitry has never travelled abroad, but he received a deportation order from the Home Office after serving a prison sentence for drug-related offenses and possession of a taser.
According to The Guardian, Dmitry Lima, who never applied for a UK passport because he didn't have the money to pay the fees, has already appealed the decision. "I'm British and I've never left the country, I just don't understand," the man said.
In the appeal he presented, Dmitry highlighted that he is British, as his parents moved to the country 30 years ago. "Losing the life I've built in the UK would be devastating, both mentally and emotionally," the man said. "I consider the United Kingdom my home, as it is where I have spent my entire life".
According to changes introduced after Brexit, the deportation of a European citizen is considered to be of "public interest" if the person in question has been sentenced to a prison sentence of more than 12 months.
Dmitry Lima was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, in August 2020, for two crimes of drug trafficking and possession of a prohibited weapon. He served just over two years of the sentence he had been handed.
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"Loosing the life I've built"? Although having a British man deported for Portugal for crimes committed is weird to say the least, I applaud Britain for making deportation a must for criminals who are not citizens of the country. I wish Portugal would do the same for every non-citizen or recently accepted citizen who is involved in crimes, including refugees.
Criminals have built no life in their HOST countries worthy of keeping if their 'contribution' to the community is crimes against them. My parents and many other portuguese are immigrants, as are many other nationalities including italians, greeks, germans, spanish and more. Most of them then, and most of them now work, pay taxes, and are a positive influence to their families and communities. We do not need criminals, and in particular, criminals selling drugs to continue to ruin societies.
By Paul Neto from Algarve on 29 Dec 2023, 12:34
Just to clarify, this is not a post-Brexit law, or anything to do with Brexit. The last Labour government passed this law in 2007. With or without Brexit, the result would have been the same.
This man has had 30 years to think about applying for British citizenship, and chose not to do so. The Brexit referendum nearly eight years ago was at the very least a strong indication that he should think about his status.
By Steve Hill from UK on 01 Jan 2024, 13:33
Although I am inclined to agree with Steve, this situation is wholly unfair to both the individual concerned and to the Portuguese people! Sure, he has made some poor choices in life and should face the consequences of that, but he has never set foot in Portugal! He is a product of British society and therefore he is our problem to somehow 'reintegrate'. If deported, he will inevitably end up in the Portuguese criminal justice system very soon, as he appears to only know crime as a means to 'support' himself and does not speak the language. He is Britain's problem, not Portugal’s (I am British).
By Zero from Algarve on 22 Jan 2024, 14:52