Immigration controls
During World War One, 32,000 Germans and Austrians, seen as 鈥榚nemy A foreigner, someone who has come from another country.,鈥 were Detained in a camp or prison, usually in the case of 'enemy aliens' in time of war. in camps and had their wealth seized by the government. Germans and Italians received similar treatment in World War Two and some were sent by ship to Canada and Australia. In July 1940, a German submarine sank one of the ships, the Arandora Star, resulting in 805 deaths. The sinking of the Arandora Star and the ill treatment of internees on another ship, the Dunera, a week later led to an outcry in Parliament which resulted in the first releases of internees in August 1940. By 1942 fewer than 5,000 remained interned.
Throughout most of this period there were ever tighter controls on The action of coming to live permanently in another country..
Key facts:
| Immigration Laws 1905-1971 | What did it mean? | |
| 1905 | Aliens Act | Immigrants were allowed entry only if they had enough money to support themselves and a job to go to. Refugees were still allowed entry. |
| 1914 | Status of Aliens Act | Aliens鈥 had to register with the police and could be deported. |
| 1919 | Alien Registration (Amendment) Act | Only certain jobs were open to 鈥榓liens.鈥 |
| 1925 | Coloured Alien Seamen Order | This established a 鈥榗olour bar鈥 on merchant shipping jobs. |
| 1948 | British Nationality Act | All Commonwealth citizens could have British passports and come and work in the UK. |
| 1962 | Commonwealth Immigrants Act | A voucher system to restrict the number of immigrants coming in. |
| 1968 | Commonwealth Immigrants Act | Entry restricted only to those with a father or grandfather born in the UK. |
| 1971 | Immigration Act | Vouchers were replaced with temporary work permits. |
| 1905 | |
| Immigration Laws 1905-1971 | Aliens Act |
| What did it mean? | Immigrants were allowed entry only if they had enough money to support themselves and a job to go to. Refugees were still allowed entry. |
| 1914 | |
| Immigration Laws 1905-1971 | Status of Aliens Act |
| What did it mean? | Aliens鈥 had to register with the police and could be deported. |
| 1919 | |
| Immigration Laws 1905-1971 | Alien Registration (Amendment) Act |
| What did it mean? | Only certain jobs were open to 鈥榓liens.鈥 |
| 1925 | |
| Immigration Laws 1905-1971 | Coloured Alien Seamen Order |
| What did it mean? | This established a 鈥榗olour bar鈥 on merchant shipping jobs. |
| 1948 | |
| Immigration Laws 1905-1971 | British Nationality Act |
| What did it mean? | All Commonwealth citizens could have British passports and come and work in the UK. |
| 1962 | |
| Immigration Laws 1905-1971 | Commonwealth Immigrants Act |
| What did it mean? | A voucher system to restrict the number of immigrants coming in. |
| 1968 | |
| Immigration Laws 1905-1971 | Commonwealth Immigrants Act |
| What did it mean? | Entry restricted only to those with a father or grandfather born in the UK. |
| 1971 | |
| Immigration Laws 1905-1971 | Immigration Act |
| What did it mean? | Vouchers were replaced with temporary work permits. |
All the above laws restricted immigration, except for the 1948 Act which opened doors because the UK needed more workers after World War Two. The 1962 Act, which aimed to restrict numbers, backfired. Many men who were working here at the time were eventually intending to return to their families; however they realised that they may not be readmitted if they went home to visit so they brought their families to join them and decided to settle permanently.
After the 1970s, immigration from EU member states had to be allowed by European law, so most legislation was aimed at A person living outside their own homeland as a result of war, famine or persecution. and Someone who leaves their own country for fears over their safety. They hope that the government in another country will protect them..
Laws passed to control immigration 1993-2002
| A few of the many laws controlling immigration 1993-2002 | What did it mean? | |
| 1993 | Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act | Restricted who could be accepted as refugees. |
| 1996 | Asylum and Immigration Act | People who employed asylum seekers without a work permit were breaking the law. |
| 1999 | Immigration and Asylum Act | Asylum seekers to be given food vouchers rather than welfare payments. |
| 2002 | Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act | People wanting to be citizens had to pass a 鈥楲iving in the United Kingdom鈥 test. |
| 1993 | |
| A few of the many laws controlling immigration 1993-2002 | Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act |
| What did it mean? | Restricted who could be accepted as refugees. |
| 1996 | |
| A few of the many laws controlling immigration 1993-2002 | Asylum and Immigration Act |
| What did it mean? | People who employed asylum seekers without a work permit were breaking the law. |
| 1999 | |
| A few of the many laws controlling immigration 1993-2002 | Immigration and Asylum Act |
| What did it mean? | Asylum seekers to be given food vouchers rather than welfare payments. |
| 2002 | |
| A few of the many laws controlling immigration 1993-2002 | Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act |
| What did it mean? | People wanting to be citizens had to pass a 鈥楲iving in the United Kingdom鈥 test. |
By 2007, however, the immigration system was out of control, with a massive backlog of people claiming A shelter or refuge 鈥 it could be a country, for example. whose cases had not yet been dealt with. The UK Border Agency was set up to try and deal with the problem.
During the same period laws were passed to promote better community relations, and prevent racial To treat someone differently or unfairly because they belong to a particular group. and racist hate crimes.
Key facts:
| Race Relations Laws 1965-1998 | What did it mean? | |
| 1965 | Race Relations Act | Some kinds of racial discrimination were made illegal. |
| 1968 | Race Relations Act | Made discrimination illegal in employment and housing. |
| 1976 | Race Relations Act | Set up a Commission for Racial Equality to promote racial equality. |
| 1998 | Crime and Disorder Act | Harsher punishments for hate crimes based on race or religion. |
| 1965 | |
| Race Relations Laws 1965-1998 | Race Relations Act |
| What did it mean? | Some kinds of racial discrimination were made illegal. |
| 1968 | |
| Race Relations Laws 1965-1998 | Race Relations Act |
| What did it mean? | Made discrimination illegal in employment and housing. |
| 1976 | |
| Race Relations Laws 1965-1998 | Race Relations Act |
| What did it mean? | Set up a Commission for Racial Equality to promote racial equality. |
| 1998 | |
| Race Relations Laws 1965-1998 | Crime and Disorder Act |
| What did it mean? | Harsher punishments for hate crimes based on race or religion. |
More guides on this topic
- Migration to Britain c1000 to c2010 overview - OCR A
- Medieval 1000-1500 overview - OCR A
- Reasons for immigration in the Medieval era - OCR A
- Experiences of immigrants in the Medieval era - OCR A
- Impact of immigration in the Medieval era - OCR A
- Immigration in the Early Modern era, 1500-1750 overview - OCR A
- Reasons for immigration in the Early Modern era, 1500-1750 - OCR A
- Experiences of immigrants in the Early Modern era, 1500-1750 - OCR A
- Impact of immigration in the Early Modern era, 1500-1750 - OCR A
- Immigration in the Industrial era, 1750-1900 overview - OCR A
- Reasons for immigration in the Industrial era, 1750-1900 - OCR A
- Experiences of immigrants in the Industrial era 1750-1900 - OCR A
- Impact of immigration in the Industrial era 1750-1900 - OCR A
- Immigration in the Modern era 1900 - present overview - OCR A
- Reasons for immigration in the Modern Era 1900 - present - OCR A
- Impact of immigration in the Modern Era 1900 - present - OCR A
- Migration to Britain c1000 to c2010 - exam preparation - OCR A