Helen Peden represents family of four from Nicaragua in successful asylum appeal

29 September 2026

The First-tier Tribunal at Phoenix House, Bradford (pictured) found that Helen Peden’s client and family were at risk on return to Nicaragua. Credit: Yorkshire.com.

Garden Court North’s Helen Peden has represented a Nicaraguan family of four in a successful asylum appeal to the First-tier Tribunal, on the grounds of imputed political opinion.

The lead appellant, ‘Mr A’, is a Christian pastor who publicly prayed for defecting police officers during the notorious ‘clean up’ operation in Nicaragua in 2018. The government of President Daniel Ortega conducted a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests and other perceived forms of political opposition, committing widespread human rights violations in the process.

Mr A also supported the distribution of medical supplies within his local community when state hospitals were closed to protesters injured during the violence.

The First-tier Tribunal found that Mr A, and by extension his wife and two children, were at risk on return to Nicaragua based on the available country evidence regarding state treatment of perceived political opponents. The appeal was allowed with regards to their entitlement to protection under the Refugee Convention.

In this case, a country expert report formed part of the pivotal evidence, particularly in considering the significance of video footage depicting Mr A’s support for the police officers, which was posted and widely shared on social media.

Non-electronic visit visas

On 5 March, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reintroduced a series of migration reforms including non-electronic visit visas for Nicaraguan and Saint Lucians nationals.

This reform, introduced alongside a ‘Visa Brake’ system for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, came amid claims that the visa system was being misused by individuals travelling to the UK to claim asylum. The Home Secretary’s statement specified that the visa brake “is not intended to be permanent and will be regularly reviewed”.

The First-tier Tribunal’s ruling in the case of Mr A demonstrates that asylum appeals from Nicaraguans can still be meritorious despite the recent media attention and reforms.

Helen is part of Garden Court North’s immigration team. She was instructed to represent Mr A and his family by Hannah De Leso of Parker Rhodes Hickmotts.

For further information, please contact Alex Blair, Communications Manager at Garden Court North Chambers: ablair@gcnchambers.co.uk