Press Releases
Previous Press Releases
2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001December November October September August July June May April March February January
News Articles for April 2004
April 27, 2004
Migrationwatch response to the Prime Minister's speech on immigration April 27
April 22, 2004
Migrationwatch media comment
April 6, 2004
Media comment from Migrationwatch on immigration 'summit'
Full Text of Press Release : April 2004
April 27, 2004
Migrationwatch response to the Prime Minister's speech on immigration April 27
Like the Prime Minister we support managed migration. The problem is that the current situation could in no way be described as managed. Foreigners are not recorded in and out of Britain and only one in five of failed asylum seekers are removed. But he has avoided the main point.
Legal immigration is at an historic high. It has doubled to a quarter of a million under his Government. Even allowing for the 90,000 British people who are leaving every year, our population - on the Government's own figures - will increase by 5.6m in the next three decades.
That is five times the population of Birmingham. People want to know what is the point of all this and what its effects will be on our society.
Back to top
April 22, 2004
Migrationwatch media comment
Commenting on Government plans for a ‘blitz’ on illegal immigration announced today independent think tank Migrationwatch called it `largely window dressing.`
The measures on sham marriages were welcome, if long overdue. But the proposals on students would have little effect as there is still to be no check on whether students, genuine or not, actually leave the country after their course is finished.
‘The problem is not the arrival of students. It is their failure to depart. It is time for the government to stop window dressing and take real action to prevent students, and also visitors, from simply staying on after their visas have expired,’ said Sir Andrew Green, the organisation's Chairman.
Back to top
April 6, 2004
Media comment from Migrationwatch on immigration 'summit'
The Prime Minister, in his press conference, completely missed
the point.
Public concern is not just about abuse of the immigration system. It is also about the nature and scale of immigration which is the highest in our history.
In 2002 net non EU immigration was 233,000. Our estimate is that only just over a quarter of these immigrants came with work permits - and this number includes their dependants.
Action against bogus colleges and sham marriages is most welcome, if thoroughly overdue. But it is only tinkering round the edges.Three steps are now essential to restore control of our borders:
re-instatement of embarkation controls for foreigners;
the introduction of ID cards;
and, the establishment of a serious capacity to remove those who have no right to be in Britain
Back to top