Britain Pledges Tighter Immigration Policy

[Mystified]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=535&ncid=535&e=9&u=/ap/20050207/ap_on_re_eu/britain_immigration


"The government Monday proposed tighter immigration controls and said only skilled workers who speak English would be allowed to settle in Britain permanently."

"Home Secretary Charles Clarke said the government also would fingerprint all foreigners applying for visas to stop them from remaining in Britain once their permits expire."

"This country needs migration. Tourists, students and migrant workers make a vital contribution to the U.K. economy. But we need to ensure that we let in migrants with the skills and talents to benefit Britain, while stopping those trying to abuse our hospitality and place a burden on our society," Clarke said.

"Under the proposals, only skilled workers who can support themselves financially can apply to stay permanently. They must have lived in Britain for five years and be able to speak and write in the English language."

Sounds like a common-sense approach to a growing problem. Hopefully the U.S. will soon follow suit.

[GCP]

1. Well, I believe the US already does

When my family and I came over, my husband had to get an L1 visa which was provided by his company and was to show that they needed him to perform his particular job and that they had tried to find a comparable candidate in the States and hadn't been successful.
When we applied for a Green Card we had to go through the same process, his company had to prove that he was qualified to stay and that we had paid taxes etc.

[Mystified]

2. It sounds like it

I think our system breaks down when millions of undocumented people cross the border with impunity. Britain has it a little easier since they're a set of islands, but hasn't anyone at US Customs ever heard of at least a cursory chain link fence?

[ClarkUSA]

3. Now now...remember what Bush says...we need them people

to work the jobs that Americans don't want to.

Chian link will be useless - have you ever heard of bolt-cutters?

[henrik larssonisking]

4. yup definetly needed, if a country dosent protect its

borders then it ceases to exist.