UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

Immigrant amnesty worth 3 Billion Pounds

Thursday, 18 June 2009

A report published by the London School of Economics (‘LSE’) has claimed that an immigration amnesty for the UK’s long term illegal migrants could net up to £3bn for the UK economy. There are currently an estimated 618,000 illegal migrants in the UK, of whom up to 442,000 reside in London.

Speaking of the report commissioned by his office, London Mayor, Mr Boris Johnson, said:

"This new report has introduced some long overdue facts, hard evidence and academic rigour into a debate which has far too often been dominated by myth, anecdote and hearsay. So, far from a financial burden, as some suggest, this new research has found an amnesty could be worth up to £3bn a year to the country's economy."

The LSE report found that although such an amnesty would lead to increases in expenditure on welfare services and housing, it would not lead to a rise in illegal migration, with 67% of illegal migrants benefitting from a proposed 5 year residency plan.

Since 1998, 111,265 illegal migrants have been deported from the UK at a cost to the taxpayer of £11,000 per person. According to the National Audit Office, the deportation of all illegal migrants from the UK would cost up to £4.7bn.

The calls for an amnesty were however roundly rejected by the Home Office, with a spokesperson saying:

"The policy on an amnesty for illegal immigrants remains unchanged and is very clear – there will be no amnesty, those here illegally should go home."

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