the Tories now want to tighten.
By an Immigration Officer MANY people were shocked by the Misclosures about the "virginity tests carried out by immieration olicials at Healhrow airport.
But medical tests, pregnancy checks. X-rays to supposedly determine a child's age, and ma Cros cuesonus are all a normal part of the degrading and distressing abuse of black people who want to come to Britain Immigration control at Britain's ports begins with Increw Dy an immereton officer, If he or she is satisfied officer has a wide discretion in the type of stamp put in the 00S03 0ashaull months* slay to a few days.
But if the officer's suspscions are aroused, the passenger 15 interviewed in depth. Baggage 11 likely to be searched; any letters are read, as are diaries and address books.
Intimate details of family life are Bixed o. women and children; information about friends" and acquainiances" Inumigration status; questions about income and housing. cating and sleeping are all 'relevant' for an immigration officer at the port of entry or to in entry certificate officer interviewing dependent relatives in Dacca or islamabad, Jamaica or Hong Kong. fences around Britain's shores — they have other brutal ways of enforcing the immigration controls that There is only one kind of "humane' immigration - and that is the ending of all restrictions on The came checks are made or those picked up by the police in Britain as suspected Immerants, They bave norich! of trial or appeal. In 1977, 485 "Tillegal" -an ported, and 13,000 passengers refused entry at the ports in the "illegal" If there is any mention at the port a couy oratop, marnage or study, or of a friend or de- family that has not already gration officer refused admittance.
Work permit
been admitted, a chief immiis called and after clearance by an inspector the passenger is likely to be holders may be refused if the immigration officer is not satistied the references are genuine while those with visas issued by the embassies high commissions abroad may if the immigration officer believes the visas were gained by concealing 'relevant' Tacks or by 'deception'.
sold:
Refused passengers are taken into detention centres staffed by Securicor and those without visas are then renoved on the next available fight. They may appeal from abroad against the refusal of entry, which is a lot of consolation to someone who has spent perhaps E500 on a return ticket.
Ал immigration appeals adjudicator, Malcolm Hurwitt, recently resigned because of the injustice in deciding such cases, when it is the absent passenger's word against the interviewing officer's written account of the intervies Injustice runs right through the immigration control sys lei. Someone who wants to relative has to prove that the relationship 2s genuine The mmunigration. officers don't have to prove it isn't genuine.
The waiting lists for an initial interview with entry certificate vary thres months to two years in Dacca and Islamabad. An appeal abuse a tornal may Lake further year or two to come for hearing 14-year-old applying in Dacca may be 16 ar interview, 18 at appeal, and then too old to reapply as a dependent if the sponsor's appeal tails.
These lengthy procedures are defended as being necessary to prevent abuse of the num gration laws. The abuse of the wives, children. and liances waiting years in the queues goes unremarked. The Heathrow Tests are only the lip of an iceberg in a system which takes as its starting point the racists determination to keep blacks out of Britain * For details of the immigratien laws, their effects, and how to oppose them, make sure copy Newsletter of the Campaign Against the Immigration Laws.
thousand copies From: CAIL. Box Rising Free Bookshop, Upper Street, London NI. Price 5p plus pap.
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policy entry to Britain.