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Our latest update follows a period in which immigration has commanded the news agenda at a new level. Before the embarrassment of another official underestimate of migrant figures had faded, home secretary Jacqui Smith was forced to make an emergency statement to MPs. It was alleged that her officials had, with her knowledge, tried to cover up the discovery that illegal immigrants had been licensed to work in sensitive government positions by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Given that these reportedly included security at ports, airports and government buildings, the potential for further embarrassment was clear.
The government attempted to wrest back control of the news agenda with the announcement of a new UK Border Agency, creating a “tougher, smarter and more flexible” super-agency combining the Border and Immigration Agency, UK Visas and the border responsibilities of HM Revenue & Customs, topped up with a specific brief to tackle the threat of crime and terrorism. Biometrics and ID cards were not far behind in the heralding of the latest solution to
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