UKBA ‘Racist’ Spot Checks & UK Immigration Policy Under Fire

The UK Home Office took to Twitter this week to highlight the arrest of 139 people, using the hashtag #immigrationoffenders. This has now sparked backlash from critics and Britain’s equality watchdog have noted their intention of investigating the UK government for possible unlawful discrimination after a campaign against immigration violators that saw people detained at workplaces and tube stations.

Launch of controversial UK Home Office Tactics

In the past month, the Home Office has resorted to controversial tactics which include vans telling immigrants to ‘go home’ and immigration spot checks at railway stations. This has been met with anger from local communities and leaders who believe that people are being targeted by their skin colour and this is unacceptable and unsettling.

On the streets of Walthamstow, East London, the UK Border Agency carried out spot checks for illegal migrants and made arrests in a clampdown against illegal immigration. This has led to a growing tide of resentment, anger and incredulity at the targeting of skin colour.  Most locals believe that Walthamstow (known as one of Britain’s most racially diverse districts) was selected purely on the grounds that it has a high population of immigrants.

UK Equality and Human Rights Commission to investigate UKBA

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHCR) has launched an investigation into the immigration checks for possible discrimination and is also probing the controversial Home Office advertising campaign telling illegal immigrants to ‘go home’ or face arrest.

Chris Bryant, Labour Immigration Spokesman has demanded the Government release statistics on the number and ethnic background of people being stopped and has accused the government of whipping up ‘moral panic’ over immigration for electoral purposes. UK Immigration Minister Mark has countered this by stating that “although we do not often run these kinds of operations, it is not a new way of working. We have used these tactics effectively over many years.”

Baroness Valentine: Poorly designed immigration policies are damaging the London Economy

Baroness Valentine believes that the proposal from part of the coalition to make some overseas visitor’s pay a £3,000 bond to come to Britain coupled with adverts urging self-deportation can perhaps be seen as Britain’s most ill-considered development in immigration policy yet.

Migrants and visitors are hugely important to London and the economy – to the jobs market they bring investment, entrepreneurial flair and specific skills which often cannot be delivered by local training.

Legal Advice for Illegal Migrants in the UK

Illegal migrants with strong Human Rights arguments ought to take legal advice and regularise their stay in the UK as soon as possible and before it is too late. Please contact us to discuss your immigration situation and we will assess your case and provide you with options of regularising your stay.

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