Immigrants working in Britain forced to pay cash deposit

Yesterday, deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced plans for a cash bond scheme for immigrants coming to Britain.

After recent headlines showing much concern on immigration numbers, the cash bonds would act as a refundable guarantee for visitors to Britain who do not illegally stay in the UK after visiting.

The cash bonds are aimed at visitors from “high-risk” countries. A list of these countries has not been drawn up yet, but is expected to include Asian and Middle Eastern nations.

Clegg assured that “once the visitor leaves Britain the bond will be repaid” but that any legislation “needs to look into the detail and seek a wide range of views including from the home affairs select committee”.

 Clegg also said: “The bonds would need to be well targeted so that they don’t unfairly discriminate against particular groups… and the amounts would need to be proportionate…. [so as not to] penalise legitimate visa applicants who will struggle to get hold of the money.”

He also desires a system that would be “welcomed” by genuine visitors rather than “place a great burden on them” claiming that the bonds would speed up visa applications.

However, Keith Vaz, Chair for the Home Affairs Select Committee, told the BBC “this idea is likely to end in tears” and that the bond idea is “unworkable, impractical and it’s discriminatory…they’re likely to retaliate, and introduce a bond scheme for British citizens visiting their countries”.

The Chair also claimed that those paying the bond and still attempting to stay in the UK illegally cost, under European arrest warrant, “£18,000” each so the scheme will “cost the tax payer a huge amount of money”.

Lucy Woods