The immigration battlefields
13 April 2012
New EU countries
- 72 million people become eligible to live and work in Britain from 1 May when Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Malta join the EU
- How many will come to Britain is a mystery but the estimate of 13,000 looks too low
- Ministers have announced a registration scheme for the new EU nationals
Eastern europe
- Romania and Bulgaria cost Immigration Minister Beverley Hughes her job. Her successor, Des Browne, must move quickly to put an end to the open door for visa racket gangs
- Most pressure for legal migration will come from countries bordering the EU. More work permit schemes might be needed to prevent illegal immigration
- The visa regime for eastern Europeans will need to be redrawn as countries apply to join the EU in the next decade Rest of the world
- English language, a tradition of tolerance and prosperity make Britain a magnet for people worldwide
- Asylum claims from Somalia, China, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are still high. Britain is pushing for asylum camps near refugees' home countries
- Terrorism concerns are high about immigrants from North Africa, the Middle East and south Asia
