THE FIRST immigration legislation since 1971 is about to become law. It is even more predecessors. Its main provisions will impose even greater restrictions on black people seeking to come to Britain, including opening the way to a future quota 'overstay, which presently exist. ANNIE BRADY looks at its effects.
THE Immigration Act abolishes the limitec right of spouse abroad to join their partner living in this country.
The provision which existed before was subject to which de facto LOOLS prevented 50 per cent of husbands from the Indian subcontinent joining their This law goes even WIYCO. rurtner.
The Tories' justification for repealing the existing 1s lne height of hypocrisy. They argue Was SCX discriminatory (which was). the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) briefing paper on the new immigration legislation comments:
It virtually unknown ment to respond to a decision that its laws breach human rights by removing nignts irom one group of people rather than extending them to the aggrieved group or individual Any chamen's rights, not break should level a promise given to some men'.
According to the JCWI briefing Bangladeshi families will be the hardest hit. If their sponsors here become homeless, their right enter. In some local authorities, there is a catch-22: men whose families are not here cannot qualify for council Tally accommodation; vet they will not be able to bring their families here Name Address I enclose che е/РО Action for £ Registered as a newspaper with the Printed by Fast End Offset Ltd. (TU), London Ez.
racist than its direct police interference.
Because a large cochair for a large council house'.
The JCWI points out that in 1986, 74 per cent of Bangladeshi wives and 95 of Bangladeshi Coll children were protected by the existing law Tens of thousands of people wallie to join their families already in Britain will LUW be prevented from doing so.
The fact that certain calegories will escape inis new net will only further split families up. For example, Bangladeshi children whose fathers became British before they were born aren't affected Some this nev legisiation.
children family will be allowed ened. , others will be excludThe provision will also have further, longer-term effect. British men who want to marry women from abroad will be subject to marriage or other tests that the government decides to impose. There have already been indications that the Tories are considering introducing a quota system.
The second major restriction contained in the new legislation is to further reduce the right to appeal against deportation.
present those who 'overstay' in this country appeal against deportation, citing special compassionate circumstances тог екатріс OCCAN members of their family are already living here or, SUBSCRIBE Inland 24 issues £10 le to Socialist Send io: Socialist Action Subs, PO Box 50, London NI 2XP.
PD Boo London NI. as in cases like Viraj Menbeing . ponucal refugee.
Under the law those who have been in less seven years can no longer claim compassionate grounds for being allowed to stay. The JCW1 points out that this effectively removes deportation this calcul The home office will also be able to institute proceedings against overstayers; regardless : 0I long they have resided in Britain. Criminalisation, of course, allows the police to * become directly involved in immigration matters. is a recipe for an inevitable stepping-up racial harassment.
Not surprisingly pauses of this the main this Act. the new law further extends the alreadypervasive powers of immigration . the home office is given the right to charge a fee for processing applications to come to this country Permission to stay here will not this is paid. This will create significant barrier to poorer, especially large, families seeking reunion in Britain' according to the JCWI.
The overall effect of this pernicious piece of lory legislation Is cicall racist. Yet Labour, in line shameful past WILE record of support for the introduction of racist immigration laws, has put up little fight against it.
That situation must be reversed. The movement must begin campaigning now to ensane LICl Laily cull mits itself to repealing this racist immigration legislation when Labour next comes to office.
• Further information available from the JCWI, Street, London ECIV 9JR (01-251 8706).
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system. In addition, the new law all but abolishes the right of appeal against deportation and introduces a fees system. And, to top it all, it criminalises those who introducing
Margaret Thatcher claims that the Act will plug some gaps. Those so-called gaps in fact are the limited rights
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