It is estimated that there are 436,000 illegal immigrants working in Britain today. The British taxpayers lose billions of pounds each year in lost tax from people working illegally. With the introduction of compulsory ID cards for immigrants it will become easier for potential employers to ascertain their right to work in this country as immigration documents can be easily forged, where as an identity card with biometric means of identification are not. The current system where-by illegal immigrants can survive beyond the system creates a dangerous situation for the immigrants themselves. As they are working illegally they are often subjected to the whims of unscrupulous employers that take advantage of them safe in the knowledge that they have limited rights.^[1] The introduction of compulsory ID cards will help ‘flush out’ illegal immigrants from the system, and ensure that people being hired have the right to be within the UK.

1. ^ www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/amnesty-on-illegal-immigrants-is-worth-1636bn-to-uk-472164.html

Illegal workers avoid being caught by staying outside of the system. Most illegal work transactions are paperless, off-the-record and unaccountable. Many employers that take on illegal workers do so because it is cheaper for them to do so. Therefore, introducing ID cards simply won't affect such employers because they will not request any documentation, and illegal immigrant workers will continue to be exploited.

Terrorists and criminals are known to use false and multiple identities to disguise their activities, avoid detection and ‘launder’ money.

The ‘biographical footprint’ check will make it extremely difficult to register with the National Identity Scheme under a false identity, and the scheme will not allow people to register more than once as their biometric data would be detected. While the National Identity Scheme cannot prevent terrorism, it can make it far more difficult for terrorists to conceal their identity^[1]. The scheme will help the security services in their investigations into organised crime and terrorist activities and help protect the UK against threats to national security.

1. ^ http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Identitycards/DG_174260

Unless everyone is required to carry and present their ID card - and only their ID card - for every transaction, there will still be plenty of other valid forms of ID (e.g. a passport or ID card from another EU country) in circulation. Suicide bombers seem quite content to use valid ID.

The biometric and biographical checks will not prevent multiple applications. The head of the ID programme admitted as much way back in 2005. And the Home Office has never explained how it will prevent 'ID laundering' - i.e. assuming the personal details of someone not yet registered - let alone sort out the mess when the theft is discovered, years after the criminal has been using someone's 'clean' identity as their own.

The introduction of ID cards for immigrants is a flawed idea that won’t work. Illegal immigrants will still come to the UK regardless of whether there are ID Cards or not, so the function of the cards as a deterrent is negligible. The types of employers that employ illegal immigrants usually knowingly do so because illegal immigrants provide cheap labour, work jobs that are unsavoury they would find hard to fill elsewhere, and have limited rights.^[1]. The cost of the whole ID card scheme is also another worry, as some put the figure to roll out the scheme at £5.4 billion.

1. ^ http://www.trevor-mendham.com/civil-liberties/identity-cards/immigration.html

An ID card system specifically for immigrants and asylum seekers would serve to isolate these groups from the rest of British society. Back in 2002, the Scottish National Party's Kenny Gibson created an outcry when he called an ID card proposed for asylum seekers the "modern equivalent" of the yellow star used in Nazi Germany to identify Jews^[1]. Whilst Gibson was attacked over this reference, there is little doubt that the proposed ID card will stigmatise asylum seekers and immigrants.

1. ^ http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/nov2001/asy-n03.shtml