independent race and refugee news network


	Topics

Government policy

Policing and criminal justice system

Violence and harassment

Asylum seekers and refugees

Education

Media

Employment

Extreme-Right politics

Features

Statistics and definitions

Quiz

Schools against deportations

Reclaiming the struggle

Far-Right in Europe

New law introduced

By Liz Fekete

16 December 2002

After attempts by the House of Lords to throw out some of the most repressive aspects of the Bill, the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act was passed with barely any opposition in the Commons in November 2002.

It coalesced many of the ideas raised over the last two years by the home secretary and the proposals in the White Paper, Secure Borders, Safe Haven.

The Act, which mirrors many of the changes in other European countries, reintroduces the 'white list' of supposed safe countries to which asylum seekers, whose applications have failed, can be removed. The list now includes the ten 'accession states' to the EU - including those from which the Roma flee to the UK. Many appeals for asylum seekers have been fast-tracked to be heard within days - precluding the possibility of gathering evidence to support a claim. More policing powers are given to immigration officers and extended information gathering via bio-data initiated. Naturalisation as a British citizen will necessitate not only adequate knowledge of English but also an understanding of British democracy.

In future, no asylum seekers can stay with friends or family. All asylum seekers will have to accept a package of subsistence and accommodation and abide by any rules attached to them. Most will be kept in new isolated camps, within which the children of asylum seekers will mostly be given their education. The right to work for asylum seekers is removed entirely - even from those who have waited over six months. Single people who do not claim asylum as soon as 'practicable' will be given no support at all.

privacy | using our content | advertising | support us