Campaign grows for migrant amnesty

Two-thirds of people believe asylum seekers and refused asylum seekers should be allowed to have jobs and pay taxes, according to a survey by the Strangers into Citizens campaign.

The poll revealed that 66% of people in the UK would accept refused asylum seekers and those who had overstayed their visas if they worked and paid taxes.

Strangers into Citizens (SIC), an alliance of faith and community organisations, is campaigning for an amnesty and employment rights for illegal immigrants - a campaign backed by unions.

Current government estimates are that there are over 280,000 refused asylum seekers in Britain and many of them are destitute. SIC wants to see those who have been in the country for more than four years given a permit to work legally and pay taxes and held a rally in London recently calling for this.

General secretary of the UNISON public services union Dave Prentis told the rally: "These workers already make an enormous contribution to our country, which will grow further when they are allowed to work without fear, pay taxes and make use of the skills and training they bring from around the world."

One-off naturalisation programmes have taken place in Germany, Spain and the USA. Co-ordinator of SIC Austin Ivereigh said such programmes may not stop illegal immigration, but they "bring thousands out of limbo, ... bring huge benefits to the state and shrink the underground economy on which people trafficking and exploitative employers thrive."