Press Archives

Tuesday 17 May 2005

JCWI statement on immigration measures announced in the Queen's Speech today

Habib Rahman, JCWI Chief Executive, said:

On limitations of right to immigration appeal
If the UK wants to realise the full benefits of immigration, it must first recognise the rights of people who seek to come here. As a consequence of the Government limiting the rights of people wishing to enter or remain, many could experience the UK as a less just country, as well as a country that offers less opportunity. The effects on the most vulnerable migrants could be intolerable.

On limitation of indefinite leave to remain for those granted asylum and increasing use of fast track and detention vis-à-vis asylum applicants
The decision to no longer award indefinite leave to remain automatically to those judged to have genuine asylum claims could leave many traumatised individuals in limbo. People who have fled human rights violations need stability to put their experiences behind them and to integrate with UK society

It is no good paying lip service to the Geneva Convention only to use the rules to deny people's ability to obtain human rights protection in practice. Already the new rules on funding representation at asylum appeals risk returning people to lethal situations in their home countries. Any increased use of fast track and detention would make it much harder for vulnerable individuals to get a lawyer and a fair hearing under the asylum process.

ID cards
Identity cards risk being exclusion cards. They risk pushing undocumented migrants and over-stayers to the margins of society while generating a culture of suspicion toward ethnic minorities. The Bill as previously published contained insufficient protection against discrimination and the current race assessment does not demonstrate that such risks are not present or can be overcome effectively.

The points system:
We acknowledge that a points system is an attempt at a transparent and coherent process. However it also risks multiplying immigration bureaucracy and failing to respond quickly enough to the UK economy. It could be discriminatory if it denies entry to people who have not been able to obtain education and training in their home countries. Given the opportunity, many low-skilled immigrants are capable of becoming successful professionals and business persons as the Marks and Spencer's of the world have demonstrated.