However, immigration laws have only become stricter. The federal government has shifted to increased border security — beefing up the Border Patrol to 18,000 and building a fence along the Mexico border. According to one estimation, more state immigration laws were passed in 2007 than in 2005 and 2006 combined. With raids against illegal immigrants continuing across the US, a trade and immigration roundtable conference held in Washington last week agreed on one thing: US immigration policy is sapping trade.

UNITED KINGDOM: It introduced new sections to the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act of 2006 in February to curb the growth of workers entering the country illegally, making it more difficult to appoint non-EEA (European Economic Area) workers. Thousands gathered in London last fortnight to protest against the new rules, which make it more difficult to bring skilled foreign cooks and chefs for curry houses and Chinese eateries, because of its bias towards migrants with top educational degrees.

Earlier this month, in a victory for immigrants, the British Government’s move to amend rules regarding a Highly Skilled Migrants Programme (HSMP) was struck down by the high court. The HSMP Forum, which appealed against the government move, represents highly skilled workers — including doctors, engineers and technocrats, mostly from India — who had come to the UK under one of its most popular schemes. Under the changes which the Government sought to make, HSMP visa holders would have been required to reappear for an examination to have their visas extended, and applicants had to have a high annual income and a fixed age limit.

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