New UK laws questioned by migrant groups

Britain’s recent efforts to tighten immigration have come into question by a group that represents professionals from non-European countries, Indian especially, who want to ensure that no legislation is enacted retrospectively.

Last week the British government released a new draft bill which will further tighten regulations which featured the new ‘permission’ grant for UK entry or stay.

The Executive Director of the group known as the Highly Skilled Migrants Forum, Amit Kapadia, expressed concern that the introduction of new laws frequently meant that existing, law-abiding migrants were often targeted.

The new scheme will be an extension of the points-based system which means migrants will have to satisfy a range of criteria before they are allowed entry into the UK. Kapadia wants individual circumstances to be taken into account before any decision is made as to if ‘permission’ will be extended to numerous honest, tax-paying residents.

Kapadia also argued that the new shortage occupation list would have a major impact on the total number of foreign employees, with many existing migrants status likely to come into question. Migrants who had made previous arrangements in good faith should not be affected by changing governmental circumstances.

Kapadia said the Highly Skilled Migrants Forum was concerned that the government was introducing streamlined powers of expulsion which could be considered abuse under human rights law if honest people are unfairly penalised. Kapadia also argued that migrants would be agitated against the system if the laws were enacted retrospectively.