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Rally demands 500,000 illegal immigrants be allowed to stay
Last updated at 20:37pm on 07.05.07Half a million illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in Britain under an "earned amnesty", it has been suggested
The call was made at a rally in London attended by Labour MPs, church leaders and trade union bosses.
They believe anyone who has been living here illegally for four years – such as failed asylum seekers and visa overstayers – should be given a two-year work permit.
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Protestors at the rally in Trafalgar Square today
After that time they would be legally allowed to stay, provided they passed an English language test, had a job and no criminal record.
Later, they could apply for citizenship-The Home Office has no firm figures on the number of illegal immigrants in the UK, but estimates range from 450,000 up to 870,000.
Among those who attended the "Strangers into Citizens" rally were Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster; the Anglican Bishop of Southwark, Dr Tom Butler; Labour deputy leadership contender Jon Cruddas; and Jack Dromey, deputy leader of the Transport and General Workers' Union.
The Roman Catholic leader in England and Wales, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, spearheaded a rally in Trafalgar Square
Campaigners claim hundreds of thousands of immigrants are stuck in a "dehumanising limbo" in the UK and letting them work legally would bring huge benefits in extra taxes and better working conditions.
Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said he did not want to encourage illegal immigration but with up to half a million "undocumented" migrants in the country some way must be found "for their rights to be respected."
Britain last granted an amnesty in 2003 to certain categories of asylum-seeker families. David Blunkett, then Home Secretary, predicted that around 14,000 families would qualify, allowing 50,000 people to settle legally in Britain.
But since then almost twice that number have taken advantage of the measure and stayed.
Critics say any such scheme is doomed to failure in the long term.
Both Spain and Italy have granted repeated amnesties over the past 20 years, yet the problem of illegal immigration has grown.
In Italy, a 1988 amnesty allowed 119,000 foreigners to settle. When the exercise was repeated in 2002 the figure soared to 700,000. In Spain, figures rose from 44,000 in 1985 to 700,000 two years ago.
Privately, Home Office officials admit there is no real prospect of returning most of Britain's illegal immigrants, meaning hundreds of thousands are likely to stay for years, working in the black economy.
Such a vast amnesty would allow the Government to wipe the immigration slate clean, but it would unleash a political storm.
Sir Andrew Green, chairman of the MigrationWatch think-tank, said: "This rally is no doubt well-intentioned, but it is thoroughly misconceived.
"An amnesty, even spread over several years, is absolutely bound to increase illegal immigration by people who will be undercutting the wages of British workers."
A Home Office spokesman said: "An amnesty for immigrants illegally in the UK is unnecessary and would simply create a strong pull for waves of illegal migration."
Reader views (11)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
An amnesty would be a really good idea because those people whom have spent many years living in despair, low paid jobs and really bad living conditions. Most of these people still have hope that one day the Government will actually do something positive for them. Most of these people are so badly off that they cannot afford to go back to their countries of origin and are still living and hoping for a brighter future. They are mostly genuine refugees who should be given a second chance to prove themselves. The UK Government should seriously think hard and come up with something as this will benefit the whole economy and will reduce crime and will be good news for human rights policies.
- Nawid, Peterborough
I think an amnesty will be good for the ecomony financially and will bring in thousands of pounds in the form of tax to the industry. What the home office needs to do is to implement some form of code on the visa to prevent them from claiming benefits for the next 5-6 years. At present most young citizens choose not to work because the system provides flats and money for them so immigrants have to fill these spots.
- Dex, London
Someone whose got heart will consider that illegal immigrant are being exploited, at least give them a chance by granting them amnesty with no access to any benefits in the country. Remember that we are all human beings.
- Glory, London
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