A judge has temporarily blocked the Government from removing Chagossians from their homeland after a group arrived there this week.
Justice James Lewis secured the ruling from a plane on Thursday night in a lifeline for the islanders.
“There is no doubt the balance of convenience falls on the side of the claimants,” Justice Lewis said. “They are 120 miles from Diego Garcia and pose no threat to national security on the evidence before me.”
The injunction will remain for seven days, allowing the Government time to respond.
Four Chagossian islanders touched down on Ile du Coin, part of the Peros Banhos coral atoll, on Tuesday.
The group was led by Misley Mandarin, the Chagossian First Minister.
“We, the people of the Chagos Islands, stand today on the soil of our homeland,” the islanders announced in a “Declaration of Return”.
“We are the advance party. Hundreds more are following. We have come home.”
Chagossian First Minister Misley Mandarin returned to the archipelago on Tuesday | GB NEWS
The islanders describe their arrival as the beginning of a permanent settlement after being turfed out of their homeland between 1967 and 1973 to make way for the Diego Garcia base.
Authorities again served them with removal papers on Wednesday, before their lawyer James Tumbridge successfully applied for the injunction, The Independent revealed.
Speaking to GB News last night, Mr Mandarin sent a defiant message to the PM and Border Patrol, vowing they would “have to kill him” if they want to remove him.
He was earlier served with removal papers by border officials, threatening him with three years in prison if he fails to leave the territory.
Ben Habib’s “Great British PAC”, which has long backed the islanders, hailed the injunction as a major victory last night.
LATEST ON THE CHAGOS ISLANDS:
Misley Mandarin sent a defiant message to the PM last night
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PA
“Thank you again to everyone who donated today – you’ve helped shield the Chagossian community from the threat of eviction from their islands,” it said in a statement.
Mr Habib later confirmed to GB News that the islanders now “cannot be evicted” from their home.
The news follows Donald Trump’s blistering attack on Labour’s “surrender” deal just days ago.
“Should Iran decide not to make a deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia,” he said as he warned the UK not to cede control of the archipelago.
Sources close to the President went on to reveal how the US has learned that China and India may be negotiating to gain control of different islands in the archipelago.
Mr Trump is also said to be angered by the UK’s refusal to allow American forces to use RAF bases for strikes against Iran.
Chagos Islands: key facts | GB NEWS
There are also additional concerns that Labour has shared US military plans with Mauritius, an Indian and Chinese ally, in advance of potential American action against Tehran.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith was hailed as vital in prompting Mr Trump’s outburst after visiting Washington DC this week.
The China hawk met with the Department of War, State Department, NSC and the White House on stopping the Chagos “surrender”, his successor Kemi Badenoch said.
“The Conservative team will do all we can to stop this terrible deal,” she added.
Negotations over the islands began in November 2022 under the Conservative Government.
GB News has approached the Foreign Office for comment.