The Lib Dem's immigration amnesty

[Simster]

Are you a fan or not?

On balance, I think I am. Afterall, we simply don't know how many illegal immigrants are in the country, so I'd rather have them paying tax right now, thereby denting the profits of criminals.


Note - this is not a thread on how future illegal immigration should be curbed, but more about what to do with the existing problem.

 

[fleet]

Not a fan for the reasons the others said - it would encourage more illegal immigration on teh expectation that we would do it again sometime.

 

[beorhthelm]

you think they'll suddenly all become tax payers if you knew how to live in this country under the radar, would you suddenly start paying taxes?

its an outright dumb idea, which will only encourage more illegal immigration. (i am not opposed to legitimate and economically productive immigrants)

 

[Da Man Clay]

Not a fan for the reasons the others said - it would encourage more illegal immigration on teh expectation that we would do it again sometime.

Spot on.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Maybe has good intentions, but after years of right messages which has reduced the flow of illegal immigration and bogus asylum seekers it would send the message that coming here illegally might be worth the risk.

 

[simmo]

If you give an amnesty to people whom have been here 10 years ILLEGALLY and therefore are under the radar of everything how do they/you anyone prove they have been here/or have not been here for more than 10 years.

For example, how does it stop someone trying to get in illegally this very minute and saying when they go for the LIb Dems amnesty, I have been in the UK 10 years (you have nothing to prove/disprove this either way because they are here illegally i.e they have no passport stamp no ferry ticket etc).

 

[Tricky Dicky]

... but after years of right messages which has reduced the flow of illegal immigration and bogus asylum seekers ...

Just curious - is that true ? I've never heard any claims like that before (although I'm sure Gordie would attest to it).

As to the question, on balance, probably not a good idea. I imagine some would turn "legit", but many wouldn't - plus it's an open invitation for their relatives to come too.

I really do think we ought to be checking people leaving the country though - so we know who is here (well the legal ones anyway) - I can't believe it's not something we do already.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Of the million or so illegals in the country how do they prove they haved lived here for 10 years or more ? How many of them can speak enough basic English and want to integrate into our society ? The number one problem is that we dont know where they live as they are part of the black economy.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Just curious - is that true ? I've never heard any claims like that before (although I'm sure Gordie would attest to it).

As to the question, on balance, probably not a good idea. I imagine some would turn "legit", but many wouldn't - plus it's an open invitation for their relatives to come too.

I really do think we ought to be checking people leaving the country though - so we know who is here (well the legal ones anyway) - I can't believe it's not something we do already.

Definitely true on asylum seekers. They were running at 6,000 a month 10 years ago and now much lower.

You can never tell on illegal immigration of course but Sangatte has gone which has made it harder and there isn't so much talk of Britian being a soft touch.

GB doesn't talk about it because he still isn't removing more illegal immigrants than come here.

 

[Rookie]

Very poor policy that I don't think they have fully thought through. They have been unable or unwilling to say how many the amnesty will apply to and the repercussions that will follow with extended family members etc.

 

[drew]

you think they'll suddenly all become tax payers if you knew how to live in this country under the radar, would you suddenly start paying taxes?

its an outright dumb idea, which will only encourage more illegal immigration. (i am not opposed to legitimate and economically productive immigrants)

Out of interest then, what solution are GB and CMD offering? Answer, absolutely nothing.

Amnesty to those that have been living here for some time. Tighter border controls and reintroduce the exit checks to make sure people have left (something I believe the Tories scrapped - that was a good idea!!).

It is the best solution because at the moment it is the only alternative to the status quo (and look how long that band have been going!!).

 

[simmo]

Out of interest then, what solution are GB and CMD offering? Answer, absolutely nothing.

Amnesty to those that have been living here for some time. Tighter border controls and reintroduce the exit checks to make sure people have left (something I believe the Tories scrapped - that was a good idea!!).

It is the best solution because at the moment it is the only alternative to the status quo (and look how long that band have been going!!).

Well I presume their answer would be if we found illegal immigrants they are to be deported out of the UK because they are here illegally. What is wrong with that? How is that not the best solution?

 

[drew]

Well I presume their answer would be if we found illegal immigrants they are to be deported out of the UK because they are here illegally. What is wrong with that? How is that not the best solution?

Why do you presume that? If that were the case, why didn't Cameron and Brown say that last night when challenged? There are, at some estimates, 600k of illegal immigrants. Haven't heard GB of CMD saying how they are going to track them down and get them out of the country. Remember, these are illegal immigrants, not assylum seekers or those here legally.

I thought Camerons refusal to answer Clegg's closed question about the fact the tory cap will not affect eu labour migration said it all.

 

[Simster]

Well I presume their answer would be if we found illegal immigrants they are to be deported out of the UK because they are here illegally. What is wrong with that? How is that not the best solution?

That's not a policy - that's common sense. They'll all do that, it's just that the LibDems want a clean slate before implementing it.

Maybe the LibDems should simply tweak this amnesty idea. An amnesty to all illegals, 2 months to either register and this does NOT extend to family, or leave the country. If after the two months, you are still here and have not registered, you will be deported immediately when caught with no chance of getting back in.

At least that would get *some* of the illegals paying tax...

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

Cracking idea - a comprehensive amnesty and resettlement in Reigate.

 

[simmo]

That's not a policy - that's common sense. They'll all do that, it's just that the LibDems want a clean slate before implementing it.

Maybe the LibDems should simply tweak this amnesty idea. An amnesty to all illegals, 2 months to either register and this does NOT extend to family, or leave the country. If after the two months, you are still here and have not registered, you will be deported immediately when caught with no chance of getting back in.

At least that would get *some* of the illegals paying tax...

If you are here illegally how do you anyone prove/disprove you have been here 10 years and not 10 minutes?

 

[Simster]

Cracking idea - a comprehensive amnesty and resettlement in Reigate.

Yes. Ideally in tents all over the cricket club, where that tool Crispin Blunt spends all his time.

(also where I will be tonight, but there we go. )

 

[bhaexpress]

Interesting, I know of a couple of Filipinos who are hoping for this. They have worked al the time they have been here and have never asked for a penny. Having said that I wonder how many people will emerge from the woodwork with their hands out.

 

[beorhthelm]

Out of interest then, what solution are GB and CMD offering? Answer, absolutely nothing.

so because the others dont offer an alternative, this must be a good solution by default?

its a poor solution which is no better and potentially worse than the status quo.

or shall we apply the amnesty logic elsewhere? not caught for a crime, after 10 years we'll forget about it. no? in no other area would this even be considered, why with illegal immigration?

 

[simmo]

Why do you presume that? If that were the case, why didn't Cameron and Brown say that last night when challenged? There are, at some estimates, 600k of illegal immigrants. Haven't heard GB of CMD saying how they are going to track them down and get them out of the country. Remember, these are illegal immigrants, not assylum seekers or those here legally.

I thought Camerons refusal to answer Clegg's closed question about the fact the tory cap will not affect eu labour migration said it all.

Well I don't think they even have to bother to say that. If someone is found to be here illegally then they need to be deported. Why are you also rewarding with UK citizenship, people whom have done something illegal (i.e entering the UK without the relevant papers to stay) as well?