This chapter examines the extent to which new security powers have been aimed at migrants and, secondly, examines the general measures and policies targeted at unauthorised (‘illegal’) migrants. The two aims of the chapter reflect the number of policy measures (particularly in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9/11) intended to combat a cocktail of issues: unauthorised migration, border security, fraudulent asylum claims, crime, and terrorism.

The theme of ‘security’ therefore encompasses elements of anti-terror policy and elements of unauthorised (‘illegal’) migration policy. While the overwhelming majority of unauthorised immigrants do not pose a terrorist threat to the UK, they are discussed together under the theme of security because that is often how they are treated by policy makers. However, such a lens can distort reality, adding to the general view that they are interconnected. As a result, this chapter starts by trying to unpick the discourse of security.

Securitisation

The conflation of different policies under the rhetoric of security, particularly in the wake of the 11 September 2001 attacks, has led some commentators to suggest a securitisation of migration policy – in other words, a move by political actors to place the immigration issue on a security agenda to allow them to respond in extraordinary (often emergency-response) ways (Buzan et al, 1998; Zucconi, 2004).

Anti-terror rhetoric

When the political discourse is analysed, there is plenty of evidence to support the claim that policy has been securitised. For example, the major anti-terrorism Act in the period 1997–2007, and the one most closely associated with immigrants, is the 2001 Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act. The connection between asylum and terrorism was made explicit as the Bill was going through Parliament. Beverly Hughes, then Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, in reply to challenges that the Bill's scope was too wide, stated that ‘all the measures are designed to enhance intelligence and information gathering, to restrict people suspected of involvement in terrorism, to prevent abuse of asylum [my emphasis] and to give law enforcement and security agencies powers to tackle the problems that we face’ (Hansard, 19 November 2001, cols 112–13).