Tuesday, 25 November 2008
migration watch
(SEE PRINTED GRAPH)
Migrationwatch UK, “Outline of the Problem”MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/0utline_of_the_Problem_010107.pdf
claims that immigration is now 15 times the scale of asylum and that 76% of the population favour caps on immigration.2 states that this is an “unprecedented scale” and that the net migration for 2005 was “292,000”.3
claims that 50,000 illegal immigrants are detected every year but no one knows how many will come in.4 claims to England being twice as crowded as Germany and four times as crowded as Paris.5 points to a 33% increase in the demand for visas, reaching 2.5 million a year.6
Against claims that immigrants bring economic growth affirms (1) that the benefit they bring is basically proportional to the increase in population they provoke. (2) They will not solve the pensions problem, as they themselves will become old (3) drive wages down and encourage British citizens to remain on benefits.7
Problems: (1) resentment amongst native population, shared by majority in ethnic minorities (2) fear that Britain is losing its distinct culture (3) formation of parallel communities with little loyalty to Britain, often at odds with one another, influenced by overseas satellite television (4) Pressure on housing and services (5) changing in the configuration of cities, especially London, claims that in the last decade 600,000 Londoners have left to be replaced by 700,000 immigrants (6) problem of immigration.8
Defends (1) limit on immigration so that those coming in balance those leaving (2) “explicit nation building” to integrate minorities. 9
Migrationwatch UK, “An Overview of UK Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Overview.pdf [Accessed 3 October 2008]
claims that until the 1950s there had been no major immigration into the UK, except from Ireland.10
1996 settlement figure 61,000 2005 figure 179,000.11
claims that the work permit system has become a major avenue for immigration.12
on illegal immigration 2001 Government estimate of between 310,000-570,000 centred on 430,000 with MWUK updating this to 515,000-870,000 centred on 670,000 estimating for asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected.13
“Net migration reached a record high of 222,000 in 2004 before falling slightly to 185,000 in 2005. During the 60’s and 70’s emigration generally exceeded immigration and in the 80’s and early 90’s net immigration was generally below 50,000 people a year. Such very high migration into Britain is therefore a new phenomenon. Net non-EU migration to the UK has been rapidly increasing from 44,000 in 1992. In 2004 it reached a new record high level of 268,000. In 2005 it fell to 203,000 reflecting the fact that ten new countries had acceded to the EU in May 2004. There has been a steady net outflow of British citizens during this period - reaching a record high of 120,000 in 2004 before falling slightly to 107,000 in 2005. Net flows of EU citizens into the UK have been modest until recently. The maximum net inflow of citizens of the 15 continental European countries which were EU members before May 2004, in the period 1995 –2004, was 24,000 in 1998 and the maximum net outflow was 35,000 in 2002. This changed with the accession of the 10 countries to the EU in May 2004. The international migration statistics show that a net 49,000 and 65,000 people migrated from the accession countries in 2004 and 2005 respectively bringing total net migration from the EU up to 74,000 and 89,000 in these years. However, net migration from the accession countries only accounts for about 1 in 5 of net foreign immigration in total.”14
claims that the argument that immigrants do the jobs Brits do not want results in the creation of an underclass.15
denies, compared to other countries in Europe, that Britain has a demographic problem.16
“Over half of migrants live in London and the South East and more than 75% of new
migrants are settling there.”17
29% of the population of London consists of ethnic minorities.18
Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008)
Deny that the influx of immigrants is due to globalization but attribute it to government policies.19
1Migrationwatch UK, “2.3 million immigrants come to UK in 16 years” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pressreleases/pressreleases.asp?dt=02-June-2008 [Accessed 3 October 2008]
2Migrationwatch UK, “Outline of the Problem”MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/0utline_of_the_Problem_010107.pdf, 1.
3Migrationwatch UK, “Outline of the Problem”MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/0utline_of_the_Problem_010107.pdf, 1.
4Migrationwatch UK, “Outline of the Problem”MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/0utline_of_the_Problem_010107.pdf, 1.
5Migrationwatch UK, “Outline of the Problem”MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/0utline_of_the_Problem_010107.pdf, 1.
6Migrationwatch UK, “Outline of the Problem”MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/0utline_of_the_Problem_010107.pdf, 2.
7Migrationwatch UK, “Outline of the Problem”MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/0utline_of_the_Problem_010107.pdf, 2.
8Migrationwatch UK, “Outline of the Problem”MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/0utline_of_the_Problem_010107.pdf, 2.
9Migrationwatch UK, “Outline of the Problem”MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/0utline_of_the_Problem_010107.pdf, 3.
10Migrationwatch UK, “An Overview of UK Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Overview.pdf [Accessed 3 October 2008] 1.
11Migrationwatch UK, “An Overview of UK Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Overview.pdf [Accessed 3 October 2008] 1.
12Migrationwatch UK, “An Overview of UK Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Overview.pdf [Accessed 3 October 2008] 1.
13Migrationwatch UK, “An Overview of UK Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Overview.pdf [Accessed 3 October 2008] 3.
14Migrationwatch UK, “An Overview of UK Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Overview.pdf [Accessed 3 October 2008] 3.
15Migrationwatch UK, “An Overview of UK Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Overview.pdf [Accessed 3 October 2008] 4.
16Migrationwatch UK, “An Overview of UK Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Overview.pdf [Accessed 3 October 2008] 4.
17Migrationwatch UK, “An Overview of UK Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Overview.pdf [Accessed 3 October 2008] 4.
18Migrationwatch UK, “An Overview of UK Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Overview.pdf [Accessed 3 October 2008] 5.
Migration Watch UK
“until 1982 there was a net outflow of migrants from Britain. Between 1982 and 1997 average net immigration was about 50,000 a year. It has climbed rapidly since 1997 to reach a peak of 244,000 in 2004. This has now fallen to about 190,000 a year.”21
“Net foreign immigration is officially defined as the number of foreigners arriving in the UK intending to stay for more than a year, minus the number who leave intending to be away for more than a year. In 2006 arrivals reached 510,000 (about one per minute) and 194,000 left; so the net figure was 316,000. This amounts to 0.5% of our population every year, and is 25 times higher than any previous wave of immigration”22
“The following are the main government policies which have contributed to this massive increase in immigration:
• Removal of embarkation controls for EU destinations in 1994 and for the rest of the world in 1998.
• Allowing marriage to be used as a means of immigration from 1997.
• Doubling the number of work permits issued in 2002.2
• Opening the labour market to new EU members without restriction in 2004.
• Opening new immigration routes to the UK through the highly-skilled migrants programme and the graduate work scheme.”23
2006 68% of immigration came from countries outside the EU24
3 sources of illegal immigration (1) failed asylum seekers (2) illegal entry (3) overstayers25
Arguments against amnesty for illegal immigrants (1) would be an incentive (2) expensive to administer (3) would allow them to bring in family (4) unfair to reward illegal behaviour with access to welfare state.26
regarding education, problems of schools with many students who do not have English as a first language.27
NHS: problems (1) immigration outstrips growth of NHS (2) costs with maternity, interpretation and translation (3) tendency to go to A&E where questions about entitlement are not usually asked (4) importing of diseases such as TB and Hepatitis B28
Recognises that immigrants have contributed extensively to the NHS (1/3 of doctors and nurses) but claims that this is no longer necessary, especially with the increase of domesticall trained staff.29
strain upon police, especially through the criminality of immigrants, costs with translation and the issue of traffiking.30
claims that migrants cause problems for community cohesion, and that these concerns are shared by Black and Asian minorities in the UK (quotes statistics to this effect).31
refers to research by a House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs which denied that net immigration resulted in economic benefit for the United Kingdom.32 (1) per capita impact of immigration is small, with the cost of population increase33 (2) reduces the training and apprenticeship amongst native population34 (3) increasing retirement age is the only solution for the pension time-bomb, immigration has little impact.35
points to support from business leaders for controls on migration (but are questions to wishy-washy?)36
claim that immigrants and their descendants will account for 70% of the increase in British population growth.37
claims that by 2009 England will become more crowded than Holland, losing only to Malta.38
points to research that c.40% of the demand for new housing will come from immigration.39
20F Fields & N Soames “Preface” in Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 2–3, 3.
21Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 6.
22Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 7.
23Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 9.
24Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 10.
25Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 15.
26Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 16
27Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 17.
28Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 18.
29Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 18.
30Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 19.
31Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 21.
32Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 23.
33Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 24.
34Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 24.
35Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 25.
36Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 27.
37Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 28.
38Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 30.
39Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 31–32.
Migration Watch
main issue is whether contributing to society as a worker for 3-4 years should automatically have a path leading to settlement.61
economic migration (note admittance that most do not migrate for work purposes) may benefit employers, but costly for taxpayers and sectors of the indigenous population.62
contra claims of contribution in taxes claims (1) year used 1999/2000 atypical in terms of overall government surplus (2) ignores costs of immigrants (3) unfair in that it compares young immigrants to an, in average, older indigenous population.63
remittances have a negative effect on foreign exchange.64
claims of immigrant contribution have underestimated their impact on population growth, especially children born in the UK.65 in another paper this is amended, Government treats UK born children of mixed marriages as UK children, MWUK would rather they were treated as half/half.66 Still maintain there is no net benefit when compared to existing population.67
Quotes M Wolffe “The desirability of sizeable immigration is a matter more of values than of economics. It is not a choice between wealth and poverty, but of the sort of country one desires to inhabit.”68
note fear of a “Back door” route into the UK, especially through (1) amnesty to illegals in other countries (2) fast access to citizenship/settlement, would prefer 10 years of residence.69
points to London receiving 65% of immigrants.70
complains about the excessive extensions granted to student visas, which it sees as another “back door” into the UK.71
Statistics on Brazilian students (new visas/extensions) 2001: 10700/3395 ....2002: 9700/4635....2003: 8840/753072
claims that with zero net migration only 30% of the current projected homes built on greenfield sites would need to be built.73
Disputes claims by IPPR that granting an amnesty to illegal immigrants would bring in £1 billion a year to the treasury claiming that the cost would actually be of £0.8-1.8 billion a year. Main arguments: 1) IPPR calculations do not include the various public funds that immigrants would have access to 2) IPPR calculations underestimated the number of immigrants but overestimated the number in employment and how much they are earning.74 [note however that MWUK do not factor in the cost of deporting the illegal immigrants]
Outlines the UK Borders Act of 2007, significant for 1) the power of deportation at ports 2) biometric ID for immigrants 3) automatic deportation of foreign criminals.75
suggests that confusion may arise because of changes in terminology.76 Because Home Office is not always able to send Presenting Officers to Immigration Appeals, proposes that judges be allowed a more inquisitorial role.77
“The internationally accepted United Nations definition of a migrant is someone who changes his or
her country of usual residence for a period of at least a year”78
60Migrationwatch UK, Balanced Migration, (Deddington: Migrationwatch UK, 2008) 51–54.
61Migrationwatch UK, “Migrants-Do they Bring Economic Benefit” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatch.co.uk/pdfs/economic/1_1_Migrants_Do_they_bring_economic_benefit.pdf, [Accessed October 7 2008] 1.
62Migrationwatch UK, “Migrants-Do they Bring Economic Benefit” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatch.co.uk/pdfs/economic/1_1_Migrants_Do_they_bring_economic_benefit.pdf, [Accessed October 7 2008] 2.
63Migrationwatch UK, “Migrants-Do they Bring Economic Benefit” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatch.co.uk/pdfs/economic/1_1_Migrants_Do_they_bring_economic_benefit.pdf, [Accessed October 7 2008] 2.
64Migrationwatch UK, “Migrants-Do they Bring Economic Benefit” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatch.co.uk/pdfs/economic/1_1_Migrants_Do_they_bring_economic_benefit.pdf, [Accessed October 7 2008] 3.
65Migrationwatch UK, “Migrants-Do they Bring Economic Benefit” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatch.co.uk/pdfs/economic/1_1_Migrants_Do_they_bring_economic_benefit.pdf, [Accessed October 7 2008] 3–4.
66Migrationwatch UK, “The fiscal contribution of migrants (revised)” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/economic/1_10_Fiscal_contribution_of_migrants_190806.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 2.
67Migrationwatch UK, “The fiscal contribution of migrants (revised)” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/economic/1_10_Fiscal_contribution_of_migrants_190806.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 2.
68Migrationwatch UK, “Migrants-Do they Bring Economic Benefit” MWUK Homepage available online at http://migrationwatch.co.uk/pdfs/economic/1_1_Migrants_Do_they_bring_economic_benefit.pdf, [Accessed October 7 2008] 9.
69A Green, “Evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union Sub-Committee F (Home Affairs) – INQUIRY INTO ECONOMIC MIGRATION TO THE EU” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/economic/1_8_inquiry_into_economic_migration_to_the_eu.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 1.
70Migrationwatch UK, “Submission to the House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs on ‘The Economic Impact of Immigration’” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/economic/1_18_Submission_to_Hof.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 2.
71Migrationwatch UK, “Student 'Scams' provide yet another back door into Britain” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Education/2_2_student_visa_extension.pdf [Accessed October 8 2008] 1.
72Migrationwatch UK, “Student 'Scams' provide yet another back door into Britain” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Education/2_2_student_visa_extension.pdf [Accessed October 8 2008] 2.
73Migrationwatch UK, “The impact of immigration on housing in England” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Housing/7_9_Impact_of_Immigration_on_housing.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 2.
74Migrationwatch UK, “THE TRUE COST OF AN AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Legal/8_19_True_cost_of_Amnesty.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008].
75H Mitchell, “UK Borders Act 2007” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Legal/8_21_UK_Borders_Act_07.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008]
76H Mitchell, “Draft (Partial) Immigration and Citizenship Bill” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Legal/BP8_28.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 2.
77H Mitchell, “Draft (Partial) Immigration and Citizenship Bill” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Legal/BP8_28.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 4.
78Migrationwatch UK, “The Measurement of Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_1_Measuring_immigration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 1.
Migration Watch
Second source is the Settlement Data enumerating those granted indefinite leave to remain.80 Third source of data is the census.81
international migration to places where there are already existing ethnic minorities.82 London preferred area with 750,000 coming between 1993-2002.83 Balanced by the departure of white residents, especially young couples with children; increase in commuting.84 Higher the presence of ethnic minorities, higher the departure of white population.85 Brent white population declined from 136,600 in 1991 to 122,400 in 2001.86 Claims that this process leads to the separation of the white population from the ethnic minorities, and makes the integration of immigrants more difficult.87
2003 18.6% of births to mothers not from UK compared to 12.1% in 1993.88 (reached near 20% in 2004)89Outer London 41%; Brent 65% Greater London 47%90 2004: Births to foreign-born mothers are concentrated in particular areas. In Greater London as a whole the percentage is 49% (Inner London 57%, Outer London 43%) and the following London boroughs have 60% or more of births to foreign-born mothers:
Brent 68%
Camden 61%
Haringey 60%
Kensington and Chelsea 67%
Newham 71%
Tower Hamlets 69%91
MWUK claim that their stance is that immigration policy should reflect UK needs contra IPPR “apparent stance” that social policy should adapt to immigration trends.92
proposes tighter rules to discourage intercontinental marriage.93
“It is relevant to the UK that those granted amnesty in the EU will eventually obtain
documents that will permit them to travel to Britain. In Spain, anyone who has held a
resident permit for ten years can apply for Spanish nationality; for nationals of Latin
American countries and the Philippines, the qualifying period is only two years.”94
“It was also claimed that £4.7 billion would be “saved” by not undertaking their
forced removal. Nobody is suggesting such a course. One might just as well suggest
that we can “save” £100 billion by not sending a man to the moon!”95
Rather than removal suggest (1) stricter control on entry (2) stricter control on labour market (3) use of ID cards to deter from use of NHS and granting children access to school. (does not deal with human rights issue...nor the costs of these stricter controls.)96
79Migrationwatch UK, “The Measurement of Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_1_Measuring_immigration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 1–3.
80Migrationwatch UK, “The Measurement of Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_1_Measuring_immigration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 3–4.
81Migrationwatch UK, “The Measurement of Migration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_1_Measuring_immigration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 4.
82Migrationwatch UK, “The Effect of Immigration on the Regions” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_10_Internal_migration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 3.
83Migrationwatch UK, “The Effect of Immigration on the Regions” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_10_Internal_migration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 3.
84Migrationwatch UK, “The Effect of Immigration on the Regions” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_10_Internal_migration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 4.
85Migrationwatch UK, “The Effect of Immigration on the Regions” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_10_Internal_migration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 5.
86Migrationwatch UK, “The Effect of Immigration on the Regions” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_10_Internal_migration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 5.
87Migrationwatch UK, “The Effect of Immigration on the Regions” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_10_Internal_migration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 7.
88Migrationwatch UK, “The Social Impact of Immigration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_11_Social_Impact_of_Immigration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 1.
89Migrationwatch UK, “The Effect of Immigration on the Integration of Communities in Britain” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_19_effect_of_immigration_on_integration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 1.
90Migrationwatch UK, “The Social Impact of Immigration” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_11_Social_Impact_of_Immigration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 3.
91Migrationwatch UK, “The Effect of Immigration on the Integration of Communities in Britain” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_19_effect_of_immigration_on_integration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 3.
92Migrationwatch UK, “IPPR Report- Beyond Black and White” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_18_IPPR_report.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 3.
93Migrationwatch UK, “The Effect of Immigration on the Integration of Communities in Britain” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/MigrationTrends/9_19_effect_of_immigration_on_integration.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 5.
94Migrationwatch UK, “An Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants?” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Other/10_15_Amnestyforillegals.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 4.
95Migrationwatch UK, “An Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants?” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Other/10_15_Amnestyforillegals.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 5.
96Migrationwatch UK, “An Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants?” MWUK Homepage available online at http://www.migrationwatchuk.com/pdfs/Other/10_15_Amnestyforillegals.pdf [Accessed October 7 2008] 6.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Datta Work
“The most recent, and perhaps most contested in terms of definition, has been a focus on
transnationalism and transmigration. This approach stresses the interconnections and networks
developed among migrant groups between source and destinations areas and how social, cultural
and economic fields often become transnational in nature”3
Britain “neo-liberal” policies: 1) decline in manufacturing 2) expansion of service industry, both in the banking, finance and creative industries, and in the low paid jobs 3) less secure employment for low paid jobs through subcontracting, agency staffing and temporary employment 4) decline in trade union power 5) creation of a “migrant division of labour”4 London: 1 in 7 workers under £5.8 an hour threshold; 1 in 5 under £6.7 an hour threshold.5
“Many of those in the lower echelons of the labour market are migrants. Indeed, London receives
around one-third of all migrants to the UK and it is estimated that between 1975 and 2000, some
450,000 migrants migrated to London (Hamnett, 2003). Furthermore, many of these migrants were
recent arrivals. Drawing on the latest Labour Survey Force (2002/2003) and the 2001 UK Census,
Spence (2005) notes that out of the 2 million Londoners born outside of the UK, 23% arrived in
this country before 1970, and 45% arrived after 1990. The ethnic profile of migrants is also diverse
with Whites constituting the largest group (40%), followed by Asians (27%) and Blacks (20%).
Also significant is that the majority of London’s migrants come from the Global South (70%), with
India, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Nigeria, Pakistan and Kenya providing the largest groups. Migrants
now account for 35% of the working age population and 29% of the total population in the capital
(ibid). Furthermore, these figures do not account for informal workers, including undocumented
migrants, so that the true size of the economically active migrant workforce is likely to be higher
than that reported officially”6
“London migrants have much lower employment rates (65%) than Londoners born in the UK (78%),
although migrants from developing countries show lower employment rates (61%) than those from
developed economies (75%); the latter are more likely to work in professional and managerial
occupations, while the former are concentrated in services and especially the hotel and restaurant
sectors. Moreover, migrants constitute 46% of all workers in typically low-paid ‘elementary’
occupations, such as labourers, postal workers, porters, catering staff and cleaners. People from
Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe and South Asia often find it especially hard to
secure well-paid work, even if arriving in the UK with good skills and high level qualifications”7
Migrant acceptance of jobs which do not match their educational qualifications, with nearly half of those sampled having “tertiary level qualifications.”8 often involves a sense of loss of dignity.9
income maximisation achieved through working long hours, including overtime at normal rates of pay, with implications on leisure and family time. Students often forced to exceed the 20 hours limitations on their work.10 extra jobs taken on, especially in catering and cleaning.11 continuous changing between jobs.12 very low up take of state benefits, even in cases where migrants were eligible.13
multi-earner households, and restriction on consumption patterns.14
household sharing and reduction in utility bills.15
use of networks to share information about work, tendency of managers/supervisors to employ workers from a similar background.16 use of networks to share information about housing and cheap consumption patterns.17
ethnic identity and ethnic networks acting as a barrier to encourage a “migrant” identity/solidarity.18
hostility between different ethnic groups, increased with A8 accession.19
“The existence of such exclusion on ethnic based grounds and the existence of fractured or
‘perverse’ social capital potentially undermines the creation of community-based coping strategies
on class-based grounds.”20
“However, despite these divisions, from an organisational point of view, it appears that faith-based
organisations are potentially the most appropriate fora through which trade unions and migrant
groups can organise to address and overcome the exploitative conditions of work in global cities
like London”21
1K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 1.
2K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 1.
3K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 2.
4K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 3–4.
5K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 6.
6K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 7.
7K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 7.
8K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 10.
9K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 11.
10K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 11–12.
11K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 12–13.
12K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 13.
13K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 14–15.
14K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 15–16.
15K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 16–17.
16K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 17.
17K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 18.
18K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 19.
19K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 19–20.
20K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 20.
21K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Work And Survival Strategies among Low-Paid Care Migrants in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2006) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/working_paper_3.pdf , 22.
Datta Mobile
excitement, contentment and acceptance.”1
tendency of Brazilian respondents to identify themselves as “White”2
tendency for men to come from middle classes in their home countries.3
work in 1) “semi-public” space such as London Underground and construction 2) in what are traditionally feminine roles such as cleaning and care.4
“Thus, throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, for example, the Brazilian economy experienced repeated periods of high inflation and economic instability, and declining job opportunities for those with professional qualifications or university training. As a result, and as many Brazilians found, in the face of economic decline at home even ‘low-paid’ menial work in northern hemisphere countries such as the US paid more than professional work in Brazil”5
idealized visions of London encouraging migration.6
migration linked to 1) risk-taking 2) self-improvement 3) need to support family, (in case of Brazilians) often children from previous marriages.7
For relatively prosperous Brazilian young men, migration means of escaping shadow of parents, who might accept migration as a means of instilling work ethic in sons.8
significance of experience of friends and family who have already migrated to London.9
tendency of Brazilians to overstate their success and prosperity in migrating to the UK.10
“Their narratives touched upon the cold grey uninviting weather, finding their way around a
vast unfamiliar city, a fear of getting lost and accounts of difficulties speaking English”11
Points to the way in which migrant's identity shaped by the British immigration system. Restrictions upon low skilled workers from outside EU creating increasing hierarchy between “legal” and “illegal” migrants reflected in their status back home.12 arrival in the UK often traumatic process, often seen to require specific masculine skills.13
sense of isolation and vulnerability on arrival.14
“men described the fear – and shame – that was part and parcel of day-to-day
life as ‘an illegal’ – a life characterised by the constant threat of arrest and deportation.”15 fear of deportation may increase loneliness by reducing visits back to home country.16
“Ethnic segmentation has long been the result of stereotyping on the part of employers, the
role of ethnic networks in employment searches, as well as institutional discrimination”17
“rather than dwelling solely on a loss of status through de-skilling and dequalification, the men also dwelled upon the hard nature of this work which can be seen as a way of highlighting their manliness and also restoring some value to these jobs”18
“London’s construction sites, for example, were dominated by Brazilians, South Africans, Poles, Czechs,
Albanians, and Armenians,”19
self-worth compensated by denigrating other ethnic groups, example given of an anti-Polish Brazilian construction worker.20 shared emphasis on poor working ethnic of British population.21
desire to return home, but as a success.22
Brazilians: being in UK often seen as growing as a person/ maturity.23
migration experience justified in terms of “delayed gratification”24
1K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 4.
2K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 7.
3K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 8.
4K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 8.
5K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 8–9.
6K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 10.
7K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 10–12.
8K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 13.
9K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 13–14.
10K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 14.
11K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 15.
12K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 16.
13K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 17.
14K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 18.
15K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 19.
16K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 20.
17K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 21.
18K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 23.
19K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 25.
20K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 25.
21K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 27–28.
22K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 27.
23K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 28.
24K Datta, C Mcllwaine, Y Evans, J Herbert, J May & J Willis, Mobile Masculinities: Men, Migration and Low Paid Work in London, (London: Queen Mary University of London, 2008) available online at www.geog.qmul.ac.uk/globalcities/reports/docs/wp9.pdf, 29.
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Woodbridge
points to adaptation made to the North American residual method to apply to the UK.2 claims that emigration is more common in the first two years of arrival in the UK.3
“The unauthorised resident population in the UK in April 2001 has a central estimate of 430,000, and a
range (based on taking all the most extreme assumptions discussed in Annex 3) of 310,000 to
570,000. These 430,000 unauthorised immigrants living in the UK in 2001 constituted 0.7 per cent of
the total UK population of 59 million. This compares to seven million unauthorised migrants in January
2000 in the US,9 2.5 per cent of the total US population of just over 281 million, using the same
method. The comparison is especially positive for the UK when one considers that the US
unauthorised population has been reduced by amnesties.”4
1J Woodbridge, Sizing the Unauthorised (Illegal) Migrant Population in the United Kingdom in 2001, Home Office Online Report 29/05 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdsolr2905.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 1.
2J Woodbridge, Sizing the Unauthorised (Illegal) Migrant Population in the United Kingdom in 2001, Home Office Online Report 29/05 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdsolr2905.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 2–4.
3J Woodbridge, Sizing the Unauthorised (Illegal) Migrant Population in the United Kingdom in 2001, Home Office Online Report 29/05 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdsolr2905.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 4.
4J Woodbridge, Sizing the Unauthorised (Illegal) Migrant Population in the United Kingdom in 2001, Home Office Online Report 29/05 available online at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdsolr2905.pdf [Accessed October 15 2008] 5.
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Fielding
arguments for controls (1) danger of one country being colonized by immigrants of another (2) borders need to be controlled to make liberal democracies manageable.2
“This conflict of interests and policy in industrialised societies...between maximising labour supply...and protecting a nation's cultural integrity...is a dilemma which admits few easy solutions.”3
experience with the apparatus of the nation state the most significant in the immigrant experience.4
increase in economic inequality between Europe and the rest of the world, leads to an increase in immigration controls and in illegal immigration.5
greater difficulty in the UK of reducing overstayers, whereas illegal entry less common than in other European countries.6
“It is difficult to withhold permanently the rights of citizenship from those who are required to fulfil the responsibilities of citizenship such as payment of taxes.”7
“The main problem, however, facing many immigrants and their family members is the legality of their status within the West European city.”8
London, concentration of ethnic minorities in inner suburbs, especially those north of the river.9
1A Fielding, “Migrations, Institutions and Politics: The Evolution of European Migration Policies,” in R King (ed), Mass Migration in Europe: The Legacy and the Future, (Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 1993) 40–62, 41.
2A Fielding, “Migrations, Institutions and Politics: The Evolution of European Migration Policies,” in R King (ed), Mass Migration in Europe: The Legacy and the Future, (Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 1993) 40–62, 41–42.
3A Fielding, “Migrations, Institutions and Politics: The Evolution of European Migration Policies,” in R King (ed), Mass Migration in Europe: The Legacy and the Future, (Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 1993) 40–62, 42.
4A Fielding, “Migrations, Institutions and Politics: The Evolution of European Migration Policies,” in R King (ed), Mass Migration in Europe: The Legacy and the Future, (Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 1993) 40–62, 42.
5A Fielding, “Migrations, Institutions and Politics: The Evolution of European Migration Policies,” in R King (ed), Mass Migration in Europe: The Legacy and the Future, (Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 1993) 40–62, 43.
6A Fielding, “Migrations, Institutions and Politics: The Evolution of European Migration Policies,” in R King (ed), Mass Migration in Europe: The Legacy and the Future, (Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 1993) 40–62, 49.
7A Fielding, “Migrations, Institutions and Politics: The Evolution of European Migration Policies,” in R King (ed), Mass Migration in Europe: The Legacy and the Future, (Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 1993) 40–62, 53.
8A Fielding, “Migrations, Institutions and Politics: The Evolution of European Migration Policies,” in R King (ed), Mass Migration in Europe: The Legacy and the Future, (Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 1993) 40–62, 56.
9P White, “Immigrants and the Social Geography of European Cities” in R King (ed), Mass Migration in Europe: The Legacy and the Future, (Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, 1993) 65–82, 74–75.
Farrant et al
Irregular migration is seen as an important public issue in several ways:
• as evidence that the immigration system is failing or being abused
• as a challenge to national sovereignty (that is, the UK may not have total control over who comes and goes from the country)
• as potentially compromising the security of the UK (especially in light of growing fears about international terrorism)
• as exposing some vulnerable migrants to exploitation, in transit or when they get to the UK. “1
define irregular migrants as those “liable to be deported for issues related to immigration status.”2 reasons 1) entry by avoiding controls 2) false documents 3) overstay 4) unreturned asylum seekers 5) lack of papers 6) failure in applying for asylum elsewhere.3
preference for term irregular as it captures complexity of issue and avoids connotation with criminality; irregulars have committed administrative offences and not serious crimes.4
compares use of “Irregular” “Illegal” “Undocumented” and “Unauthorised.”5
points out that the reasons for irregular migration are basically the same as those for regular migration; “it is the policies of receiving countries that create irregularity”6;
preference for the residual method of determining # of irregular migrants (subtracting from the total number of foreign born residents those entitled to be here legally) range of 310,000-570,000 with a median estimate of 430,000. Limitations 1) does not include all those liable to deportation (e..g. Over-working students) 2) census data out of date.7
points to the many dangerous routes of entry into the UK.8
irregular migrants concentrated in those jobs which are “difficult, dirty and dangerous” (and low-paid)9
“There are several different estimates regarding the scale of the informal economy in the UK. One average ‘guesstimate’ of its size is 6.8 per cent of GDP or £75 billion (Small Business Council 2005). While there may be short‐term fiscal advantages for both the individual and the employer in the informal economy, the broader social and economic costs are significant, ranging from a loss of social protection and rights, to increased taxpayers’ burden and limited business expansion”10 nonetheless irregulars may ensure that some jobs are done; or do not have prices pushed up dramatically.11
regularisation would involve a contribution of £485 million to over £1 billion a year to the exchequer.12
cost of deportation averages at £ 11,000 a case.13
more restrictive controls in which migrants find it more difficult to travel to and from between home country and host country may encourage permanence.14
“Immigration to the UK has been less permanent than is commonly thought: almost half (46 per cent) of all overseas‐born immigrants left the UK within five years of arrival between 1981 and 2002 (Office for National Statistics 2004).”15
Difficulty in defending human rights of irregulars as 1) Britain has no written constitution 2) irregulars excluded from many international conventions 3) Bringing a case to court involves exposure and the risk of deportation.16
compares the effect of different policies towards irregular migration.17
UK Policy: 1) historically a reliance on external border control, including carrier liability 2) a trend towards the use of internal controls e.g. Ids 3) reduce the demand for irregular labour through employer sanctions (on the whole ineffective so far) 4) increase the scope for regular migration [but is current points system a form of reversing this for low skilled labour] 5) long residence concession (discretionary for adults with 14 consecutive years and children with seven) 18 No current plans for a major regularisation programme.19
1M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 4.
2M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 5.
3M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 5.
4M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 5.
5M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 6.
6M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 8.
7M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 9.
8M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 10.
9M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 11.
10M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 12.
11M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 12.
12M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 12.
13M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 12.
14M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 13.
15M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 13.
16M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 14.
17M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 15.
18M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 17.
19M Farrant, C Grieve & D Sriskandarajah, Irregular Migration in the UK: An IPPR Fact File, (London: IPPR, 2006) 17.
Black et al
Complexity of reasons for coming to the UK but include 1) safety, 2) existence of family members 3) human rights record.4) Economic opportunities1
illegal entry usually carried out by an agent.2
occupation usually within unskilled jobs especially in restaurants.3 lack of paperwork places constrain on type of work which can be done, and exposes migrants to exploitation, low pay and long hours.4 false documents means of better employment and higher pay.5
tendency to avoid or defer going to a doctor due to illegal status, preference for a pharmacist instead.6
High incidence of detention after raids at home or at work, or random checks by police in the street.7
“There was a common theme amongst respondents of the surprise of the raid, and the lack of time they were given to gather personal belongings, money and phone numbers. Respondents talked of how they werequickly arrested, taken to a police station and then moved to a detention centre that was often very far away from where they had lived, and where their friends and contacts were. It was clear that those who had been in the country for shorter periods of time, without good social networks, often lost everything in terms of
housing and possessions.”8
1R Black, M Collyer, R Skeldon & C Waddington, A Survey of the Illegally Resident Population in Detention in the UK, Home Office Online Report 20/05 available online at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/r224.pdf [Accessed October 17 2008] 16–19.
2R Black, M Collyer, R Skeldon & C Waddington, A Survey of the Illegally Resident Population in Detention in the UK, Home Office Online Report 20/05 available online at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/r224.pdf [Accessed October 17 2008] 20–22.
3R Black, M Collyer, R Skeldon & C Waddington, A Survey of the Illegally Resident Population in Detention in the UK, Home Office Online Report 20/05 available online at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/r224.pdf [Accessed October 17 2008] 26.
4R Black, M Collyer, R Skeldon & C Waddington, A Survey of the Illegally Resident Population in Detention in the UK, Home Office Online Report 20/05 available online at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/r224.pdf [Accessed October 17 2008] 26–28.
5R Black, M Collyer, R Skeldon & C Waddington, A Survey of the Illegally Resident Population in Detention in the UK, Home Office Online Report 20/05 available online at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/r224.pdf [Accessed October 17 2008] 29.
6R Black, M Collyer, R Skeldon & C Waddington, A Survey of the Illegally Resident Population in Detention in the UK, Home Office Online Report 20/05 available online at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/r224.pdf [Accessed October 17 2008] 39.
7R Black, M Collyer, R Skeldon & C Waddington, A Survey of the Illegally Resident Population in Detention in the UK, Home Office Online Report 20/05 available online at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/r224.pdf [Accessed October 17 2008] 41–42.
8R Black, M Collyer, R Skeldon & C Waddington, A Survey of the Illegally Resident Population in Detention in the UK, Home Office Online Report 20/05 available online at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/r224.pdf [Accessed October 17 2008] 43.
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
Geisler
H Muggeridge, “United Kingdom” in R Geisler & G Burkhart, Documentation of the European Conference Monitoring forced returns/deportations in Europe, available online at Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage available online at www.ccme.be [Accessed September 10 2008].
“Media pressure is very high to remove people who do not have legal status... At present, administrative deportations are accompanied by more legal safeguards...People are often detained before deportations and are taken into custody in their houses early in the morning. Private companies are paid by the government to carry out removals but there are serious problems of accountability 0and no interest in human rights... For NGOs in the UK there is no way to monitor the behaviour of the security officials during the removal.”1
“The Home Office is responsible for deportation orders and custody pending deportation through the Director of Enforcement of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. Police can be called on, but certain Immigration Service employees (Arrest Teams) can order custody pending deportation. Procedures: Transportation and the accompaniment of deportees are dealt with by the Immigration Service, in conjunction with private companies through a network of
offices.
There are contracts with GSL UK Ltd to transport detainees to and from detention centres. Until 005 there were contracts
with Loss Prevention International Ltd for the escort of deportees on flights, especially those whose behaviour was difficult or disturbing. But because there were delays of up to eight to ten weeks in arranging overseas escorts, other suppliers for in-flight escorts have been used.”2
“There is no organisation in the UK that has access to deportations.”3
Problem areas: “Deportations with emergency travel documents.
• A lot of self-inflicted injuries, even deaths in custody pending deportation.
• Deportation of unaccompanied minors.”4
1H Muggeridge, “United Kingdom” in R Geisler & G Burkhart, Documentation of the European Conference Monitoring forced returns/deportations in Europe, available online at Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage available online at www.ccme.be [Accessed September 10 2008] 25.
2R Geisler & G Burkhart, Documentation of the European Conference Monitoring forced returns/deportations in Europe, available online at Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage available online at www.ccme.be [Accessed September 10 2008] 54
3R Geisler & G Burkhart, Documentation of the European Conference Monitoring forced returns/deportations in Europe, available online at Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage available online at www.ccme.be [Accessed September 10 2008] 55.
4R Geisler & G Burkhart, Documentation of the European Conference Monitoring forced returns/deportations in Europe, available online at Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage available online at www.ccme.be [Accessed September 10 2008] 56.
CCME
Fear of a trend towards collective expulsion.1
points to the difficulty of talking of “voluntary” return when migrant is faced with the threat of deportation.2
condemns the idea of a re-entry ban.3
condemns the way that the directive allows the detention of minors.4
1Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, “Comments on the European Commission’s Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals COM (2005) 391” Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage available online at www.ccme.be [Accessed September 10 2008] 2.
2Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, “Comments on the European Commission’s Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals COM (2005) 391” Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage available online at www.ccme.be [Accessed September 10 2008]4.
3Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, “Comments on the European Commission’s Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals COM (2005) 391” Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage available online at www.ccme.be [Accessed September 10 2008]5–6.
4Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, “Comments on the European Commission’s Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals COM (2005) 391” Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage available online at www.ccme.be [Accessed September 10 2008] 9.
CCME
“We believe that human beings, whether they have lost their legal status, ended up in a legal limbo or have tried to enter the European Union by irregular means must never be considered as “illegal”” 1
“For about ten years now, we can observe the consequences of ever stricter border policies: While these policies and measures are not capable of managing immigration, more and more vulnerable people risk their lives.”2
“Rather than continuing to build higher fences and persuading other countries to restrict exit from their territory, fair, open and transparent legal labour migration channels to the EU, both for skilled as well as for unskilled workers need to be opened up and advertised as an alternative. There are reasons to believe that with an opening of immigration possibilities less people would be forced to resort to dangerous and life-threatening courses of action as a last desperate attempt to enter the EU.”3
“Special attention should be devoted to the most vulnerable migrants also in irregular situations. Handicapped people, families and unaccompanied minors deserve special protection. For the protection of the right of the children, families in irregular situation should be integrated rather than returned. Regularisation schemes for migrants in irregular situations – under certain conditions - represent a positive means of improving the individual situation of exploited migrants and should be considered as a possible response to the demands of the labour market instead of demonising such measures as “pull-factors”.”4
1Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, “Comments on the European Commission’s Communication on “Policy priorities in the fight against illegal immigration of third county nationals” COM (2006) 402 final” Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage, available online at www.ccme.be/archive/2006/comments%20irregular%20immigration%20final.pdf [Accessed September 10 2008], 1
2Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, “Comments on the European Commission’s Communication on “Policy priorities in the fight against illegal immigration of third county nationals” COM (2006) 402 final” Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage, available online at www.ccme.be/archive/2006/comments%20irregular%20immigration%20final.pdf [Accessed September 10 2008], 2
3Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, “Comments on the European Commission’s Communication on “Policy priorities in the fight against illegal immigration of third county nationals” COM (2006) 402 final” Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage, available online at www.ccme.be/archive/2006/comments%20irregular%20immigration%20final.pdf [Accessed September 10 2008], 2
4Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, “Comments on the European Commission’s Communication on “Policy priorities in the fight against illegal immigration of third county nationals” COM (2006) 402 final” Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage, available online at www.ccme.be/archive/2006/comments%20irregular%20immigration%20final.pdf [Accessed September 10 2008], 3
CCME
Joint document in which various organisations question the validity of detention as a policy for removal.1
preference should be given to voluntary removal.2
children should not be removed by force or detained.3
“No action should be taken to remove any person who suffers from a serious illness, unless it can be established that he/she has real access to appropriate treatment and medical care in his/her country of origin upon return.”4
Detention as a final resort, family unity should be preserved and families with children should not be detained.5
1Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, “Common principles on removal of irregular migrants and rejected asylum seekers” Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage, available online at www.ccme.be/[Accessed September 10 2008] 1.
2Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, “Common principles on removal of irregular migrants and rejected asylum seekers” Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage, available online at www.ccme.be/[Accessed September 10 2008] 2.
3Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, “Common principles on removal of irregular migrants and rejected asylum seekers” Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage, available online at www.ccme.be/[Accessed September 10 2008] 2.
4Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, “Common principles on removal of irregular migrants and rejected asylum seekers” Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage, available online at www.ccme.be/[Accessed September 10 2008] 2.
5Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, “Common principles on removal of irregular migrants and rejected asylum seekers” Churches Commission for Migrants in Europe Homepage, available online at www.ccme.be/[Accessed September 10 2008] 3–4.
Rees
o
"Space does not permit entering into a discussion of the ethics of entering Europe as illegal immigrants – suffice it to say that many ask God’s blessing on their attempts to get here, and those who have to balance the books for Europe’s ageing social security system are heard to mutter a loud “Amen.” History is the story of the flow of peoples across the face of the globe, and more often than not the gospel – not to mention other ideologies – has travelled with these movements of people. Contemporary Latin American missionary strategy will not be complete without entering this arena.
We thus cannot continue to attempt to raise Latin missionaries for Europe with scarcely any reference to the massive immigration that is taking place across the continent. Beyond attempting to harness existing immigrants, there is also a place for raising a new workforce of committed and called missionaries, who will minister in Europe from the role of economic refugees. Adequate pre-field training, prayer support from home churches, preparation and co-ordination of placements, and on-field support and supervision should all be taken into serious consideration, just as much as for “full-time” workers in any other part of the world." 1(4)
1 N Rees, 'The Search for a Creative Response to Obstacles to the Growth of Mission out of Latin America', Encounters 10 (2006), 4 [available redcliffe site]
Monday, 22 September 2008
"the persistence of labour market segmentation of immigrants is a theme common to many of the more recent studies on immigrants and labour markets." 1(173)
"Immigration has extremely unequal effects upon different social strata. Some groups clearly gain...large investors and employers who favour expanded immigration as part of a strategy for deregulation of the labour market. The losers would be many of the migrants themselves...some existing members of the workforce."2 (173-174)
clustering of migrants at the higher and lower levels of the labour market3 (174)
"The process of labour market segmentation lead to a long-term marginalisation of certain groups, including many of the new immigrants from non-traditional sources."4 (178)
"the casualisation of labour and growing illegal alien employment are characteristic attributes of global cities. Considerable illegal employment of aliens often coincides with high unemployment of citizens and resident aliens."5 (179)
woman immigrant labour defined- citing Morokvasic- as both the most flexible and the most vulnerable labour supply. Incorporated into sexually segregated work markets at the lowest stratum6. (181)
"in some countries we can speak of the formation of ethnic communities in others of the formation of ethnic minorities. In the first case, the immigrants and their descendants are seen as an integral part of a multicultural society which is willing to reshape its culture and identity. In the second, immigrants are excluded and marginalized, so that they live on the fringes of a society which is determined to preserve the myths of a static and homogeneous identity."7 (195)
"There has been a convergence of policies in European countries: the former colonial countries have been more restrictive, while the former guestworker countries have become less so."8 (199)
"Increased racism, restriction of the rights of foreigners, demands for repatriation and the creation of 'fortress Europa' cannot but worsen the social and political provision of existing minorities."9 (199)
"discriminatory immigration policies cannot stop the completion of the migratory process, but they can be the first step towards the marginilisation of the future settlers."10 (201) as when immigrants have to conform to the myth of the "short-term sojourn"11 (200) they are unable to plan for a future as part of wider society 12(200-201).
1S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 173.
2S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 173–174.
3S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 174.
4S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 178.
5S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 179.
6S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 181.
7S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 195.
8S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 199.
9S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 199.
10S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993)201.
11S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 200.
12S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 200–201.
Castles and Miller
"Mobilization of immigrants and ethnic minorities outside the normal channels of political representation is often linked to experience of exclusion from the system, either through racist violence or institutional discrimination." 1(237)
o
"Immigration issues have served as an entrée for extreme right-wing parties into mainstream politics across Western Europe."2 (245)
claims that Thatcher's Conservaties preempted the National Front by "adopting key parts of its programme."3 (245)
o
challenges facing governments and peoples of immigration;
regulating legal immigration; integration; coping with illegal migration; finding long term solutions to emigration pressure; determining the role of ethnic diversity4 (262)
o
" A multicultural approach enhances democratic life in that it allows for choice."5 (264)
o
"The reasons for the present insufficiency of control measures are not difficult to understand. They contradict the powerful forces which are leading towards greater economic and cultural interchange. In an increasingly international economy, it is difficult to open borders for movements of information, commodities and capital and yet close them to people." 6(267)
1S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 237.
2S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 245.
3S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 245.
4S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 262.
5S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 264.
6S. Castles & M. Miller, The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, (London: Macmillan, 1993) 267.