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Plan to strengthen UK borders due Plans for tougher border controls
(about 6 hours later)
Tougher powers for immigration officers and a requirement for foreign nationals to provide fingerprints are expected to be in new legislation announced later. Tougher powers for immigration officers and compulsory identity cards for non-EU nationals are due to be part of government plans unveiled later.
The Borders Bill is part of attempts to strengthen Britain's borders - amid criticism that ministers have failed to deport enough illegal immigrants. The Borders Bill will propose several measures intended to strengthen the UK's borders.
It is also expected to make deportation of foreign prisoners automatic, once they have served their sentence. The bill, the fifth on immigration control in eight years, is expected to make deportation of foreign prisoners automatic once their sentence ends.
The Bill is the fifth on the subject of immigration control in eight years. Critics say ministers will extend the ID card system to UK citizens.
Immigration minister Liam Byrne said the ID cards scheme, which would require biometric data such as fingerprints and digital photographs, would make it easier to distinguish between illegal and legal immigrants.
"This bill is about introducing compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals because what business needs is something that is very, very simple," he said.
"I think it will encourage businesses to employ people who are here legally because it will have made the burden of understanding - whether someone is here legally - that bit easier."
The government really is stuck between a rock and a hard place Danny SriskandarajahInstitute for Public Policy Research
The legislation will not see the creation of a new border police force, but it will give immigration officers new powers of arrest for a range of offences.The legislation will not see the creation of a new border police force, but it will give immigration officers new powers of arrest for a range of offences.
These are understood to include more powers to detain and prosecute suspected organisers of people trafficking. These are understood to include more powers to detain and prosecute suspected organisers of people-trafficking.
Illegal working
BBC correspondent Rory Maclean said the plans were part of the government's long-term aim of being able to identify everyone entering and leaving Britain, and to limit illegal working.BBC correspondent Rory Maclean said the plans were part of the government's long-term aim of being able to identify everyone entering and leaving Britain, and to limit illegal working.
Immigration lawyers and human rights groups expressed concern that the Home Office already had enough power to deal with illegal immigration, but it was failing to do so.
Shami Chakrabarti, of human rights group Liberty, said the law could prove to be "racially divisive" if it resulted in immigration spot-checks on Britain's streets.
Government efforts
Last year David Roberts, of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, said he did not have the "faintest idea" how many illegal immigrants there were in the UK. Some estimates put the number at about 400,000.Last year David Roberts, of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, said he did not have the "faintest idea" how many illegal immigrants there were in the UK. Some estimates put the number at about 400,000.
The bill could pave the way for foreign nationals living in the UK to be compelled to provide fingerprints and a digitally stored photograph. Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke lost his job last year when it emerged more than 1,000 foreign prisoners had been released, having not been considered for deportation.
But opponents of identity cards regard this step as the pilot for a compulsory scheme for British citizens as well.
It is also expected to make deportation of foreign prisoners automatic, once they have served their sentence.
Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke lost his job last year, when it emerged more than 1,000 foreign prisoners had been released, having not considered for deportation.
Danny Sriskandarajah, from the Institute for Public Policy Research, told the BBC he was not surprised the law was being introduced.Danny Sriskandarajah, from the Institute for Public Policy Research, told the BBC he was not surprised the law was being introduced.
"John Reid and previous home secretaries have been desperate to try to convince the British public that they have control over who comes and goes and I think the government really is stuck between a rock and a hard place. "John Reid and previous home secretaries have been desperate to try to convince the British public that they have control over who comes and goes.
"They have to do something and the something that they've come up with is introducing biometric ID cards for foreign nationals." "I think the government really is stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"They have to do something, and the something that they've come up with is introducing biometric ID cards for foreign nationals."