Essay: The Impact of Boundaries on UK Immigration and Policy

This essay examines the complexities of UK immigration, focusing on the statement that "Boundaries can never be neutral." It analyzes the impact of boundaries on migration, exploring how the UK's Immigration Act and its policies, including visa procedures, shape the flow of people into the country. The essay discusses the differing rules and regulations across countries, highlighting the UK's role as a major destination for migrants and the reasons behind this, such as employment opportunities, education, and social factors. It also delves into the Immigration Act 2014 and its restrictions, the impact of policies regarding EEA and Swiss citizens, and the role of language and cultural links in attracting immigrants. The essay concludes with a self-reflection on the learning gained from the project and a comprehensive list of references including books, journals, and online resources.

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Table of Contents
PART 1: Essay.................................................................................................................................2
PART 2: Precis................................................................................................................................4
PART 3: Self Reflection..................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6
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PART 1: Essay
The set of rules and regulations may differ from one country to another based upon their
challenges and experiences being faced by them. Further, it is also dependent upon the
authorities as well that whether they want to attracts large number of migrants towards the
territory or not. The essay makes a comprehensive discussion regarding the statement,
“Boundaries can never be neutral” and analyse that whether there is any impact of boundaries on
migration or not. The essay will also make discussion regarding lenient and restricted aspects of
Immigration Act of UK so as to concrete the knowledge aspect regarding stated subject matter.
Every country has their own rules and regulation with respect to immigration. The policies
being followed by the government also helps in finding out that whether it is easy or difficult to
approach or visit to a country. Moreover, the purpose of each individual can also be different
with respect to their visits. People may visit for travel, education or employment purposes. It
helps in defining their duration of visit as well (Newburn, 2012). Hence, immigration law has
also been designed by UK government so as to ensure that all the policies are procedures are
appropriately being followed by people and territory can be kept secure. Most common
procedure is by issuing visa or having appropriate visa procedure. It is only approved if the
country finds all the documents and intentions of the individual correct. The activities related to
documentation and visa is quite important so as to mitigate the activity of terrorism that may
crop up due to migration of individual from one place to another with some of the other malice
motive. Also, it helps in initiating peace in the environment in the maximum possible way
(Immigration Act: overview, 2016).
There are various individuals who tend to migrate from one location to another. The motive
can variate as per the living condition of people. UK have been a hub of migration, where large
number of people tend to transfer to this territory with the motive of gaining higher education, to
earn better livelihood, that is, employment, to have greater social class and status, etc. Migration
have extensively grown in UK due to availability of large number of employment opportunities
available for people in it (Stewart and Mulvey, 2014). Further, migration can be due to other
reasons as well. It can include other reasons, such as, social, political, economic and
environmental aspects. Moving towards better quality of living with the aim of having better
social life is also another reason linked to migration. It as been estimated that approximately
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495,000 non-British citizens have been able to move to UK between the year 2010 and 2016.
During this period, an estimated annual average of 190,000 had an intention to live abroad.
The other major drivers of migration were due to enhancement of economic and labour
market of UK. Other driving aspects can be related to higher study opportunities, language and
established networks of various Multi National Companies (MNCs). It helps in attracting large
number of people towards it. It has been assessed that there are relatively high number of
migrants in UK in comparison to that of other EU countries. Researchers have stated that
immigration policy plays an important role in it, where, an impact can be assessed on migration
flow. Other impactful policies regarding the same can be related to employment and trade as
well. Income inequality available in UK have also been able to attract large number of high
skilled labour towards it. It is due to the fact that they are being able to generate high incomes
while working in UK. The country’s history, with respect to migration is the key contributor of
current inflow in migrants (Aliverti, 2013). It is due to the reason community networks in the
country tend to facilitate new migrations aspects by lowering the risk involved in it. Similarly,
UK’s cultural and historical links with other country also helps in facilitating growth of migrants
in the territory. Language also play a substantial role in it. Availability of English as a second
language all around the world is also an important factor that is considered by people while
choosing UK as their destination. It helps in easy facilitation of job and performing functions in
the company as well (Immigration Act: overview, 2016).
Regulations also plays an important role in ensuring that maximum number of people can be
attracted towards the country. There are other EEA citizens, who have right to come to UK, to
live, without even getting explicit permission from the government or other concerned
authorities. However, the situation is not same in case of Swiss people, where it is mandatory for
them to bring their families to UK, when they are planning to shift to the country. Their
engagement in various functions in UK is treated as binding agreement for the individual in such
a manner that even while leaving the country they are required to take special entry clearance
from the concerned department (Fox, Moroşanu and Szilassy, 2012).
An increasing rate of increase in offences in UK have been found which has initiated stricter
laws in the country with respect to migration. Hence, restrictions have been initiated in certain
areas so as to ensure that the country can peacefully function. The immigration Act 2014 of UK
have been able to restrict people to settle in the country on illegal basis restricting illegal
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migrants to enter into the territory. The people whose claim from asylum has been unconfirmed
are also restricted to enter into the country. The same applies on their dependant as well (Wray,
2016).
Immigration Act of UK have also been able to introduce new powers in the hands of
authorities to tag national foreign offenders, who are released on bail. It will reduce the threat of
illegal immigration and activities in the country. Hence, it can be stated that various measures
have been put forward by the authorities in order to reduce illegal immigration in UK, who have
higher chances that they will be able to restricted from migrating or living in the country. Stating
the reason, it can help in reducing any type of terrorism being functioning in the country,
stopping illegal employment and working conditions so that any illegal activity functioning in
the country can be reduced to the minimum (Aliverti, 2012). Smuggling in the country which
exploit core citizens of UK can be taken care of through this new immigration act being
introduced by the government. Other implications that has been taken care of by introducing new
act in the country is related to preventions of applicants from submitting application of migration
in more than one country. It helps in understanding that each country has their own rules and
regulations with respect to immigration. Some may have stricter rules that migrating into that
country may prove to difficult, some may have liberal set up, where, migrants are able to easily
migrate in the nation.
It can be stated that every border has their own symbolic representation which helps in
assessing that whether an individual belonging to some other country will be able to cross the
border or not. based on their legislation aspects as well, it is actually decided that whether one
will enter into the country or not. Hence, supporting the main argument being made the topic of
essay, that, “Boundaries can never be neutral”, that is, there will always be certain procedures
that is required to be followed by people while entering into from one country to another
(Delahunty and Yoo, 2012).
PART 2: Precis
Immigration is one department which keep changing its policies as per the instances being
noticed in the environment. Government tend to involve in policy formation aspect, so as to
ensure that all the laws and provisions being framed are appropriately being followed. European
policie4s being adopted have been made stricter by the UK government in a manner that all the
illegal activities being functioning in the territory can be eliminated (Lockwood, 2013). Every
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individual, migrating from one country to another, may find that every country has their own
rules, policies and regulations. Visa and certain documents related to Identity proof are generally
required by each and every country. Since, UK is able to attract maximum number of migrants
towards it in comparison to the other European countries. Hence, it can be stated that,
immigration policies can differ from one location to the other in such a manner that any type of
illegal activity functioning in the territory can reduced to the minimum and then can be
eliminated as well.
Each border has their own speciality and hence allow its migrants to follow different set of
rules and regulations. Hence, the boundaries of different countries can not be neutral. It initiates
one or the other issue that may be existing in the countries with respect to immigration. Hence,
the statement of essay, “Boundaries can never be neutral”, has appropriately being justified
(Bosworth, 2013).
PART 3: Self Reflection
The project has proved to be quite helpful for me where I have been able to understand that
why immigration policy of one country may vary to the other. I also got to know various cross
border policies that has actually been adopted by UK. The study has also been effective to
understand the importance of immigration act, which may vary from one country to the other. I
have been able to bring improvement in my analytical as well as critical evaluation skills. I have
been comparing and contrasting the rules and regulation, that has proved to be quite effective to
understand and create in depth analysis of the topic. It has also helped me in appropriate
completion of overall research, which is an important factor so as to reach to appropriate result
set. It has not only enhanced by thinking abilities, but project has proved to be fruitful in
improving my written and communication skills as well. I have been able to communicate
regarding immigration aspects effectively in a manner that the reader will be able to gain
adequate knowledge out of it, related to migration policies being followed in UK.
Immigration, looking from a wider perspective can prove to be positive and negative both
for the country, where people can initiate migrating from one place to another effectively,
following all policies, procedures and rules related to it. Hence, I am now being equipped with
better knowledge related to immigration policies and hence advice on the same to the other
individuals as well.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aliverti, A., 2012. Making people criminal: The role of the criminal law in immigration
enforcement. Theoretical Criminology. 16(4). pp.417-434.
Aliverti, A., 2013. Crimes of mobility: criminal law and the regulation of immigration.
Routledge.
Bosworth, M., 2013. 8 Immigration detention in Britain. In Human Trafficking (pp. 171-189).
Willan.
Delahunty, R. J. and Yoo, J. C., 2012. Dream On: The Obama Administration's Nonenforcement
of Immigration Laws, the DREAM Act, and the Take Care Clause. Tex. L. Rev.. 91.
p.781.
Fox, J. E., Moroşanu, L. and Szilassy, E., 2012. The racialization of the new European migration
to the UK. Sociology. 46(4). pp.680-695.
Lockwood, M., 2013. The political sustainability of climate policy: The case of the UK Climate
Change Act. Global Environmental Change. 23(5). pp.1339-1348.
Newburn, T. ed., 2012. Handbook of policing. Routledge.
Stewart, E. and Mulvey, G., 2014. Seeking safety beyond refuge: the impact of immigration and
citizenship policy upon refugees in the UK. Journal of Ethnic and Migration
Studies. 40(7). pp.1023-1039.
Wray, H., 2016. Regulating marriage migration into the UK: A stranger in the home. Routledge.
Online
Immigration Act: overview. 2016. [Online]. Available through <
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-bill-2015-overarching-
documents/immigration-bill-201516-overview-factsheet >
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