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News Articles for October 2003
October 28, 2003
Asylum 'amnesty' looks set to be repeated
October 27, 2003
Report Proposes Payment for ID cards…
October 23, 2003
Immigration Appeal System now 'A Soft Touch'…
Full Text of Press Release : October 2003
Asylum 'amnesty' looks set to be repeated
The 'one-off' amnesty announced by the Government last week to some 15,000 families of asylum seekers - totaling perhaps 50,000 people - may well happen again.
The Government have admitted to only half the likely numbers. There could well be a similar number who are already 'in the pipeline' and who will, in due course, seek the same treatment, says think-tank Migrationwatch UK after an analysis of the Government's own figures. (See report).
Said Sir Andrew Green , Chairman of Migrationwatch: 'Last week's amnesty covered only those who applied for asylum before October 2000 but our research indicates that about 200,000 asylum applications have been submitted since that date.
'Of these it is estimated that there are 14,000 applicants with families who will not be accepted for asylum but who will remain in the UK and, in time, meet criteria similar to those applied to the 15,000 families currently granted an amnesty.
'This is already the third amnesty granted by the British Government... Rather than being the 'one off' exercise claimed by the Government it is highly likely that it will be repeated once again,' he said. 'Yet experience in the US , Italy and Spain demonstrates that amnesties simply encourage further immigration.'
Sir Andrew said that there are two basic requirements for an effective asylum system. First, that the final decision on asylum seekers' applications should be reached quickly. Second, that those who are not granted asylum or permission to stay should be removed rapidly when the final decision is made.
'Neither requirement is near to being met, nor will they be unless the government turns to firm actions, not just tough words,' he said.
'The Government have certainly not "cleared the decks" as they have claimed. Instead, their policy of deterring future asylum seekers is now holed below the waterline.'
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Report Proposes Payment for ID cards…
People could be paid to have an ID card under proposals put forward in a paper published today by think-tank Migrationwatch.
The paper, written by an IT expert with experience of designing and implementing complex computer systems, proposes a 'virtual card', in that there would be no need to carry it, nor would it be compulsory. After a period of grace those who declined to register would simply cease to qualify for social security benefits.
'This is a serious contribution to the current debate put forward by Nigel Foster who was responsible for designing and implementing the computer systems that transformed the DVLA, on time and within budget and who now directs a software and services company,' said Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch.
'ID cards are increasingly being seen as being an essential part of the enormous task facing us if we are to regain control of our borders and begin to reduce the massive abuse of the Social Security Systems, including the NHS. This paper shows that there are innovative ways of achieving this that are worthy of serious consideration,' he said.
The system would require the establishment of a secure a national database. Eventually, all applicants would attend a local centre where digital photographs would be taken and documents examined. Iris scans and fingerprints and, perhaps DNA samples, could also be taken.
There should be no charge; indeed a "bounty" of perhaps £50 per head might be paid since there would be huge savings to the state in the
long-term.
Once registered, each citizen would have his or her unique "code"
(which would usually be just their name and a short number). An authorised person could then type the code onto a computer, which could be hand-held, and bring up a photograph for comparison with the person concerned. There would be no point in forging a card since the computer photograph would instantly reveal this.
There would be a rolling programme of implementation, starting with those claiming benefits for the first time - such as asylum seekers and then covering the rest, perhaps alphabetically.
A major issue would be how to deal with those now illegally in this country. Whatever political solution is decided upon, having a unique
and verifiable identification for each person is a pre-requisite to its effective management.
The programme would take eight years to implement at a cost of £7 billion and a further £3 billion if a bounty of £50 was paid.
Said Sir Andrew: ' This scheme deals with the three main objections toID cards. They need not be carried, there is no point in forging them and there is no compulsion. People will only need to apply for them if they wish to receive benefits from the state. That, surely, is common sense.'
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Immigration Appeal System now 'A Soft Touch'…
Fears that the appeal system has become a 'soft touch' have been expressed after an analysis of Government figures on asylum appeals showed a four-fold increase in six years.
'This is a huge rise in a short time for which no Government explanation has been forthcoming,' said Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch. 'Once again it seems that the Government's target setting has distorted the process. But it would be self defeating if thousands of people were given the right to live in Britain without a thorough examination of their claims.'
Research by Migrationwatch has revealed that the success rate of asylum appeals has risen from 5.7% in 1997 to 21.6% in 2002 (see following table)
Some suggest that the reason for this is a deterioration in the quality of initial decisions made by the Home Office. It is suggested that this is due to difficulties in recruiting and training staff as well as in the introduction of a new computer system.
However, enquiries by Migrationwatch UK reveal that a major part of the problem may lie in the appeals system.
A massive increase in the number of adjudicators from some 200 in 1992 to about 600, 120 full time and 480 part time, may well have led to a decline in the calibre of those appointed.
Changes in the training regime may also be significant. The pressure to meet targets has lead to a decline in the amount of initial and continuing training of adjudicators.
At the same time, pressure to meet a Government target to increase the disposal rate from 4,000 to 6,000 per month has obliged adjudicators to cut corners. Thus appeals may be allowed in some cases which, on more careful consideration, ought to have been dismissed.
A further problem is the continuing failure of the Home Office to recruit and retain a sufficient number of Presenting Officers to represent its interests in appeals. There is frequently no-one present in the court to put forward the Government case. The situation is exacerbated by the insistence of the Immigration Appeal Tribunal that the adjudicator may only ask questions to clarify matters. He is not allowed to take an inquisitorial approach.
As the number of appeals determined has now reached nearly 65,000 a year, a fall in the standard of adjudication could grant asylum to many thousands of applicants who do not deserve it. This would be a very poor outcome from a system which costs the tax payer nearly £2 billion a year, or nearly £5 million every day.
Click table to view larger image.
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