UK Immigration Bill puts illegal immigrants on edge

An Immigration Bill to be laid before the British House of Commons to crackdown on illegal immigrants has sent panic among Ghanaians and other nationals who are living in the United Kingdom without proper documentation.

Some Ghanaians in the UK, who have described the Bill as harsh, have expressed deep concern about the intention of the British government to introduce the Bill which when passed will propose a new criminal offence of illegally working that will allow the police to seize the wages of anyone employed unlawfully.

A Ghanaian journalist, resident in the UK, Nana Ansah Obofour, told the Daily Graphic that when the law was approved “people without proper documentation cannot even rent a room and whatever money you have saved in a bank will be frozen”.

“When passed it will would affect thousands of Ghanaians and other Africans in the larger picture, “he added.

Migration statistics 

The British Home Office has estimated that the backlog of people in Britain who have overstayed their visas and whose whereabouts are unknown is in the region of 300,000, but it is yet to establish how many are working.

Figures as of September 2014 showed that immigration rose from 530,000 the previous year to 624,000, while emigration remained stable at 327,000.

The British Premier, Mr David Cameron, won the last general election although he once urged voters during the electioneering in 2010 to kick him out if he failed to bring net migration down to the tens of thousands.

Media reports

The Guardian newspaper reported that “Cameron will promise that the Queen’s speech will contain an Immigration Bill designed to bring the whole of government into the battle to reduce migration flows. He will promise the Bill will make “Britain a less attractive place to come and work illegally”.

The report added that migrants who are legitimately living in the UK but who are working illegally may be prosecuted under the Immigration Act 1971 and be liable on summary conviction to a six-month custodial sentence and/or an unlimited fine.

Ms Theresa May, the UK Home Secretary, was quoted as saying that “It is about making it harder for people to be working illegally and setting a clear deterrent for those that want to stay here illegally”.

Under the Immigration Bill, house owners would be compelled to question tenants about their immigration status and landlords who flout the law will be liable to a prison term.

Former UK Immigration Secretary, Mr Mark Harper, said the Immigration Bill will stop migrants from using public services to which they are not entitled.

Ghanaians anxiety in UK

Some Ghanaians in the UK the Daily Graphic spoke to have expressed anxiety about the proposed Immigration Bill saying that when passed it would spell doom for the thousands of Ghanaians and other nationals illegally living in that country.

One Ghanaian who pleaded anonymity said he had lived in Britain for the past 15 years without “papers” and that when he heard about the Immigration Bill it sent shivers down his spine.

They have asked the UK Parliament to reconsider its decision to pass such a bill which they described as draconian.

Writer’s email: ebastian.syme@graphic.com.gh