In a week when London’s temperature soared to 32 degrees, Home Secretary Alan Johnson ordered the UK Border Agency to review its rollout of compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals, with a view to accelerating the process. But at the same he appears to be making a ‘U turn’ on mandatory ID cards for British Citizens.

The agency has already issued 50,000 ID cards for foreign nationals legally living and working in the United Kingdom, and expects that all within three years foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) will need to have an ID card if they are coming to the UK for longer than six months or extending their stay. Full Story.

Italy adopts new law criminalising illegal immigration

Italy takes a hard line on immigration in a move that harps back to its fascist era under Mussolini. Last week Italy’s Parliament approved a law criminalising illegal immigration and allowing citizens’ patrols to help the police keep order

Deportation reprieve for skippers and Filipino Fishermen

Deportation reprieve for Filipino Fishermen, but the loophole which allows non EU workers to be employed “off-shore” can lead to exploitation. We have met a number of Filipino workers employed by UK companies on vessels off-shore without a Work Permit. Several were forced to jump ship because of extremely low pay and poor working conditions.

London’s first Swine Flu death but no need to panic

The BBC reports that a 19-year-old man has died after contracting swine flu in London, the fourth fatal case in the UK. However, to put this into perspective, the UK has a population of over 60 million, with 7.5 million people living in London alone.

Scotland wants own immigration system

The new Australian-style “points system”, which has been recently brought in by Home Office, requires new immigrants to amass enough points, based on factors such as a employment, skills shortages and community links to gain entry to the United Kingdom. Last week the Government published the latest approved Shortage Occupations List for Tier 2 of the points based system, which includes Care Assistants.

Visa requirement for South Africans starts today

The announcement is clearly designed to reassure the public that the Labour Government is taking steps to secure and strengthen Britain’s borders.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

The agency has already issued 50,000 ID cards for foreign nationals legally living and working in the United Kingdom, and expects that all within three years foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) will need to have an ID card if they are coming to the UK for longer than six months or extending their stay.

The UK Border Agency website said that the Government plans to speed up the rollout of identity cards for British Citizens. But other reports suggest otherwise, with David Davis refuting the claim in a BBC report, and The Independent describes the move, in terms of compulsary cards for British Citizens, as the “Last rites for ID cards“.

An independent Identity Commissioner will be appointed in the near future to oversee the National Identity Service, but compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals will continue to be overseen by the Information Commissioner and the Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency.

Speaking on BBC’s Question Time this evening, Leader of the House Harriot Harmon refused to confirm that the Government would force British people to carry ID Cards.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Studying in the UK, Settlement, Citizenship, Sponsorship, extending Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Students who occupied their university for three days to save a group of cleaners from being deported claimed victory this week.

Around 60 students at the School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas) in London took control of the principal’s office on Monday after a raid by immigration officials last Friday led to six cleaners, alleged to be illegal workers, being deported and two being held in custody.

The cleaners, from South America, were part of a campaign to raise wages so that others like them could survive in London – the London Living Wage campaign.

The university denied some student’s claims that it tipped off immigration officials. Paul Webley, principal of Soas, said:

“Contrary to some of the erroneous allegations being made, Friday’s visit was not arranged or influenced by any member of staff at Soas.”

The students’ occupation ended after the university agreed to write to Alan Johnson the new Home Secretary to request the cleaners be granted “exceptional leave” to stay in the UK.

Hanadi Katerji, secretary of the Soas student union, said:

“We won some important victories with the management. It is the start of a long campaign for us. I’d like to see all staff brought in-house and given the London living wage.”

The cleaners were employed by a contract company, ISS, which has denied any links between the “living wage” campaign and the immigration raid.

A UK Border Agency spokesperson said this week:

‘We will not tolerate illegal working. It leads to the exploitation of illegal immigrants, who are frequently denied the minimum wage or forced to risk dangerous working conditions.”

Employers can be fined up to £10,000 per illegal worker under the new Civil Penalty system.

See also: UK immigrant amnesty ‘worth £3bn’ say LSE

If you need any immigration advice or help with Studying in the UK, Settlement, Citizenship, Sponsorship, extending Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk