Immigration ammnesty.

[Rawling]

Dawie you are spot on as always.

Interesting reports regarding subject of amnesty

http://www.strangersintocitizens.org.uk/proposal.html

http://www.ippr.org/publicationsandrepo ... asp?id=446

http://www.jcwi.org.uk/campaigns/worker ... Report.pdf

http://www.strangersintocitizens.org.uk ... report.pdf

[Rawling]

On 7 May, a demonstration will be held in Parliament Square in support of an amnesty for Britain's undocumented migrants. It will help the case for amnesty if a lot of people attend the demonstration. So if you can show your support by attending the demonstration. You can read more from the article below taken from http://comment.independent.co.uk/leadin ... 483828.ece

Next month a powerful cry for justice will be heard. On 7 May, a demonstration will be held in Parliament Square in support of an amnesty for Britain's undocumented migrants. The campaign's organisers, a group called "Strangers into Citizens", argue that Britain's estimated 300,000 to 500,000 irregular migrants should be given a temporary work permit if they can show they have been here for four years or more. At the end of this period they should be entitled to apply for leave to remain.

There is a humanitarian justification for this proposal. Many of those who stand to benefit, such as failed asylum-seekers, are destitute and homeless. They are afraid to come forward for help from the state because they would run the risk of being deported. Regularising their status would help them access accommodation and healthcare.

But this would be far more than an act of charity. Historically, immigrants have always contributed greatly to the public wealth through their hard work. This scheme would enable the present generation to contribute more fully. By regularising those who work in the black economy, the Treasury's tax take would be boosted by about £5bn a year. Moreover, the plan would also open the British economy to an untapped set of skills. It is often impossible for academics or doctors who have sought asylum in Britain to work in the field in which they have been trained. While their claims are being processed, they are forced to live on state handouts. If they are turned down, they often disappear into the black economy to do menial jobs. Under this scheme, they would be free to use their training for the wider public good.

There are several reasons why an undocumented worker will not want to be deported. Some will be in fear of their lives. Others will want to stay because they have decent jobs in Britain. Many will have family ties. But virtually all will have one thing in common: they would like to work legally. It is a myth that most foreigners come to Britain to live on benefits. An amnesty would help to expose this pernicious lie.

So that is the moral and economic justification. But let us be pragmatic too. At the present rate of deportations, it would take a quarter of century to remove all the undocumented migrants in Britain. And this is assuming no one else applies for asylum or overstays their visa in that time. And even if all these undocumented migrants could be located and deported overnight, such a policy would have a devastating effect on our economy. No government would long survive the consequences.

The status quo serves the interests of no one. The Government responds to the xenophobic tub-thumping of the right-wing press by announcing "crackdowns" on illegal immigrants. Ministers step up efforts to deport people. Home Office bureaucrats go after the softest targets such as children and refugees who have made a life in small communities, which then prompts a local outcry. Immigrants' lives are made miserable, ministers are criticised for failing to get to grips with the problem, and the reactionary press becomes ever more hysterical. This plan offers a way to break a vicious circle.

There is no reason why it should not work. The United States held such an amnesty in 1986 and is considering another now. Spain, Italy and Germany have held similar regularisation schemes. And an opinion poll by "Strangers into Citizens" indicates that two-thirds of the British public support an amnesty for those migrants who are prepared to work and pay tax. An amnesty would be humane, efficient and economically justified. It would also be morally just. This is a proposal whose time has arrived.

[Rawling]

Interesting article from deputy chairman of conservative party.

Allowing refused asylum seekers to work would benefit everyone

The government's talk of offshore borders does not help those who are here already, says Sayeeda Warsi

The government has announced it is getting tough on immigration (£1,000 fine for sponsors of immigrants who overstay, March 29). The fighting talk is described as a "concerted attempt to create 'an offshore border', with many more illegal migrants prevented from even boarding a plane to Britain". It is right that the leaders of the land should know who is here and who should not be and clearly this is vote-winning speak for the "get tough brigade". But I'm afraid it is only half an answer. It does not even touch on a grave problem that exists right under our noses
have co-authored a Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust inquiry into what happens to the hundreds of thousands of people who come to this country claiming asylum, and are refused. As vice chair of the Conservative party I have been asked why I am looking into this. The answer is that an inherent part of being a Conservative is that I am interested in humanity and fairness. The "enforcement strategy to tackle illegal migrants announced this month" will certainly make it harder for people to wrongly claim asylum, but it does nothing to deal with the people who have already slipped through a tattered safety net, and who are now paying the price.
Our report, Moving on from Destitution to Contribution, describes the stark reality facing thousands of people who are homeless, hungry and unable to help themselves. I do not wish to rail against current policy and slam the system, but the fact is that the government has no idea how many of these people exist; unable to work or contribute to society, unable to leave and sleeping rough. They are forced into destitution, relying on charity or working in the shadow economy, with all the dangers that can bring. It is wishful thinking to expect that, with little or no source of income, these people will return home voluntarily.

Immigration minister Liam Byrne is right to say that "our immigration control needs to start well before people come anywhere near British shores", but where is the logic that says it should then end once people are here? Men, women, children, the elderly, pregnant and educated are destitute as a direct result of government policy. During our research, we spoke to asylum seekers, voluntary groups and local agencies and all felt strongly that the only way we can help these people out of this shameful situation is to give them a revocable licence to work. And no, we are not suggesting that they have the same rights as citizens.

The government has suggested that offering work will be a pull factor for migrants. There is no evidence to support this. Right now, no one benefits. Allowing refused asylum seekers to work - with conditions - will benefit the government, the tax payer, and local communities.

This is not going to be solved with policies about visas and border controls. It will be solved when the government recognises that these people are in this country, living among us now, and the problem will not solve itself.

· Sayeeda Warsi is vice chair of the Conservative party and was a commissioner on the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust's inquiry into asylum seeker destitution

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story ... e_continue

[Rawling]

All who wish for regularization for irregular migrants please do something about it you can send email or letter to your MP.

The template is already there just follows the link below and click on take action.

Also tell your friends and relatives If you don't want to use your name you can ask you brother, sister, friend, wife, husband,boyfriend, girlfriend or relative to do it.

At this moment there are 30 MP already sign up. Obviously the more MPs that sign up the better when it comes times to discuss the issue on the Parliament.

http://voiceyourviews.net/eactivist/vyv ... :261:12983:

You can get more information here
http://www.strangersintocitizens.org.uk/