22 September 2008

UK Gov't to amend child immigration laws

The UK Government is due to announce changes to its immigration laws on child migration. According to The Independent, the new laws will give the children of immigrants the same rights as a UK child citizen.

After negative reviews of the current legislation that allows the children of illegal immigrants to be detained, the UK Government will be granting child migrants the same rights as children who were born in the UK, even if they do not have a UK visa. 

Jacqui Smith, UK Home Secretary, said, "We want every child to be as safe and secure as possible. While the lifting of the immigration reservation does not mean that every child who comes to the UK will be entitled to remain, it does signal our commitment to treat children in the UK immigration system with compassion."

The government is also imposing a duty on the UK Border Agency so that children can be kept safe from harm. 

---

The UK Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in UK visa and immigration services.

Article by Jessica Bird, UK Visa Bureau.