This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6300725.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Plans for tougher border controls Plans for tougher border controls
(about 2 hours later)
Tougher powers for immigration officers and compulsory identity cards for non-EU nationals are due to be part of government plans unveiled 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 will propose several measures intended to strengthen the UK's borders. The Borders bill, the fifth on immigration in eight years, will make deportation of foreign prisoners automatic once their sentence ends.
The bill, the fifth on immigration control in eight years, is expected to make deportation of foreign prisoners automatic once their sentence ends. It will also make ID cards compulsory for foreign nationals.
Critics say ministers will extend the ID card system to UK citizens. Immigration minister Liam Byrne denied the bill was a "knee-jerk" response to last year's foreign prisoner scandal.
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. He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "This has been a very, very carefully constructed piece of legislation.
"This bill is about introducing compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals because what business needs is something that is very, very simple," he said. "What it allows us to do is presume that somebody will be automatically deported if they have committed a certain kind of offence.
"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 class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/4945922.stm">Deportation row
The government really is stuck between a rock and a hard place Danny SriskandarajahInstitute for Public Policy Research "What that allows the Immigration Service to do is start working much, much earlier on an individual's case, safe in the knowledge of what the outcome is likely to be."
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. Illegal immigrants
Mr Byrne defended proposals for new identity documents for foreign nationals.
"At the moment, there are up to 60 different documents which someone can show to prove their entitlement to be in Britain. That is much too complicated.
"This year, I am going to increase the sanctions for businesses who break the rules and employ people illegally.
"I think the very least I can do is make life easier for those businesses by giving them a failsafe, easy method to check whether people are here legally and whether they are who they say they are."
The government says 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.
The legislation will not see the creation of a new border police force, which the Conservatives had been demanding.
But it will give immigration officers new powers of arrest for a range of offences.
Human rights
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.
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. The government says its long-term aim is to be 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. But 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.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 effortsGovernment 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.
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.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.
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."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.
"I think the government really is stuck between a rock and a hard place."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.""They have to do something, and the something that they've come up with is introducing biometric ID cards for foreign nationals."