Is there anyone out there who is anti tougher limits on immigration...

[GothAnneGeddes]

...or even anti limits on immigration at all?

I've had experiences with the system in this country (including the diabolical Certificate of Approval system) as Dh is from abroad. It's a tedious, expensive and quite frankly demeaning process.

In the UK, we regularly lock up families, including children in substandard prison accomodation, because they're viewed as 'illegal'.

In Arizona, a law has been passed so that anyone who even looks like they might be there illegally can be detained.

To me all this is wrong. Our nationalities are accidents of birth, yet the most vile, dehumanising terminology is frequently used to describe immigrants.

I know there are loads of fellow lefties here, I just wondered if others feel this way.

Yes. Whilst I'm quite happy to listen to arguments on caps on economic migrants, the immigrants who come here to claim asylum deserve not to be treated like scum. Many of them won't have their claims upheld, but I think the current laws are about right actually. (I think I can say this as my DH works in asylum and human rights - on the legal side).

Probably best not get me started on the treatment of asylum seeking children in detention.

Yes, I my now XH and our son have sufffered the expensive and difficult process. In fact it has played a part in our break up, and is the main reason that my DS has not seen his father for 3 years.

I married a non-european immigrant in Spain, where I was living. He has right to remain there, but even though he has a son and an ex-wife with British nationality he is not permitted to come to the UK because I do not earn enough money to prove to the authorities that he wouldn't ever apply for benefits.

This is why it really annoys me how the media goes on about immigrants claiming benefits. In fact, legal immigrants who come here to work are NOT entitled to ANY benefits.

it isn't a matter of right/left. This is one that comes under liberal/authoritarian.

I would welcome on open-borders policy - after all there are plenty of Uk citizens working abroad (some illegally!)

Immigration poicy has been getting increasingly stupid in an attempt to woo voters away from the BNP.

My brother had interviews on application for a China Visa - he said it was bollocks - why should the UK embarrass itself with daft 'citizenship' tests which ask questions some brits wouldn't know? the examples in operation overseas are not good...

I think the current points system to work here seems pretty sensible...

I am aware that getting a visa to even visit Britain from some countries is a massive faff likely to end in failure. I think a lot of people are under the impression that it's easier to get into this country than it is, probably because they've never tried to do it

And if you look here, you will see.... Ta-da! We're not going to be locking up children any more. Big Lib Dem pat on the back for that one, that has really made me feel massively better about the LibCon thing

I do worry about it very much.

I worry it will give some people credence to their already deep seated, racist attitudes which they may or may not have acted upon already.

I worry that it will create more racial violence, more tension and even less equality.

moi.

unashamedly so.

rascism causes rascist violence.

not immigration.

I don't see how they would be able to police it anyway. They can't control it very well now so how will setting quotas or limits make a difference?

Absolutely, with you on this.

Me

the quotas system is notoriously daft - a person with a perectly valid claim files in april - and because its year--end, is refused....

daft dasft daft.

and Britain should be proud to offer asylum to people who would be killed in their hom countries - what is more people who are granted asylum generaly pay back in tax he full cost of their period gaining entry to the country in tax by the time they have ben here 5 years (asylum seekers tend to be higher-qualified people from overseas - teachers, lawyers, doctors - you know, people that have high enough standing in their home country to get killed for it..)

Yes, I want to see immigrants treated with compassion rather than like criminals. Unfortunately it just pushes all the wrong buttons in a large part of the electorate. Fear bred through ignorance, perhaps, and the need to have an underclass to despise. It's the modern equivalent of 'no blacks, no Irish and no dogs'.

I am anti-limits, and find it annoying that the so called "right-wing" in this country is so anti-immigration. A flexible labour force is one of the finest hallmarks of a free market economy.

I don't particularly want immigrants with low skills though (and yes, I am aware of the fruitpicker argument).

Ironically, I think that right at the end Labour were finally getting some aspects of immigration right. A tight points system, combined with English language tests, breaking the link between the right to work and the right to settle, and no automatic settlement for spouses and family is the right approach.

On asylum: I am very pleased that one of the most humane policies of the new government is that they will not lock up children.

yes you are right Edgar.

But for some people who are racist [and thereby also incredibly thick] may read into a 'tougher stance on immigration' as a jolly good excuse to do some more bashing.

I'm not saying immigration causes rascism.

I am against anti immigration and wonder why the press make such a thing about it - I feel the press make it an issue and someone to blams for are woes

why do people want to comne to the uk?

make me smile when those opposed say they are leaving the country...what do they think they will then be in a forigne country?

Yes. I noticed an "Open Borders" campaign listed on a friend's facebook page. But I can't find it with google. 'Spose I should have clicked on it when I saw it.

I agree very much with this thread.

i think english language tests are a pile of wank too - can you imagine if English people had to talk the language of the country they moved to???

consider - my brother could marry a japanese woman, in Japan. They might speak only Japanese together, therefore so would their kids..suddenly he gets a job back in the UK - why shouldn't his wife & kids be able to join him? Some daft-assed language test?

I was disappointed but not surprised that immigration was one of the Tory "red lines".

I agree completely with the red lines over the EU and Trident though.

The Liberal Democrat policies on immigration were unworkable. Every amnesty in the world has led to a surge in further illegal immigration. And the regional immigration would have been impossible to police.

However, the cap is also bad policy unless it is set high enough that it won't matter anyway. It will drive away business and discourage foreign investment in Britain.

yes, me.

EdgarAllenPoll

I don't think having a basic competency in the language of the host nation is particularly onerous if you are planning to settle permanently.

It isn't so important if you are only seeking a work permit, but if you are planning on spending the rest of your life here, I think having at least a rudimentary grasp of English is essential.

Wow, I thought I was going to get absolutely flamed for this.

To clarify my personal stance, I would say that I am pro-open borders, but I really feel like that's an extreme stance to many people.

EAP - you're right that it is an auth/lib issue.

Am thrilled that detention of children will end. That is fantastic news.

longfingernails - "On asylum: I am very pleased that one of the most humane policies of the new government is that they will not lock up children. "

Ahem. That was one of ours.

So the Tories obviously didn't feel our immigration policy was that unworkable

It isn't so important if you are only seeking a work permit, but if you are planning on spending the rest of your life here, I think having at least a rudimentary grasp of English is essential.

this could mean breaking apart real peoples families. once in this country people tend to learn anyway.