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Dear Critters, Please consider asking your MP to sign an early day motion in support of a campaign to grant a citizenship amnesty to unregistered long-term migrants in the UK. You can contact your MP via www.WriteToThem.com, and the campaign website is: (www.strangersintocitizens.org.uk). Here's a sample letter you could use. Peace - Nick - Address/date Dear ..., I am writing to ask you to consider expressing your support for the 'Strangers into Citizens' campaign proposal for a pathway into citizenship for long-term undocumented migrants. The campaign by the Citizen Organising Foundation, the UK's largest network of civic groups (churches, mosques, schools, trade unions grouped in London Citizens and Birmingham Citizens), has support from a number of MPs, who recently tabled an EDM. Support has also come from faith leaders, trade unions, businesses and NGOs concerned at the emergence of a sub-class of person in today's Britain who are part of our society yet without access to the basic rights which its citizens take for granted. A one-off regularisation measure, of the sort which has been implemented in other EU countries, but tailored to the UK's needs, would liberate the up to 500,000 visa overstayers and refused asylum seekers which the Home Office concedes are irregular yet will not be (except a few) deported. On 7 May there was be a large gathering in Trafalgar Square calling for a new Home Office regulation that would allow undocumented migrants who have been in the UK for more than four years to be given a two-year work permit, at the end of which - subject to the usual criminal checks, English test, and positive references - they would be given leave to remain. The proposal has been carefully worked out to ensure that the UK's borders continue to be controlled while liberating thousands from dehumanising limbo. It is not a liberalisation of immigration, nor a relaxation of border controls; Strangers into Citizens does not oppose current attempts to enforce the borders, but argues that regularisation should be concurrent with these. The six-year pathway annuls any potential magnetic effect on further immigration which such a regularisation The EDM (1371) was tabled on 27 April, has cross-party support, and reads: 'That this House recognises the government's commitment to tighten UK borders and introduce new monitoring and assessment systems into the Immigrations Process; notes the Home Office assessment that up to 500,000 irregular migrants currently live and work in Britain; recognises that the overwhelming majority make a valuable economic contribution despite living under the shadow of illegality; acknowledges the IPPR estimation that regularisation of certain groups of migrant workers could raise £1bn in taxes; congratulates the 'Strangers into Citizens' campaign for the one off regularisation of long term 'irregular' migrants through a pathway to citizenship; calls for a full cross-party debate to consider granting a two year work permit to migrants who have lived in the UK for more than four years, following which they are granted 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' subject to an English test and positive references from an employer or person of standing in the community'. The signatories are: Jon Cruddas MP Labour; Dagenham. Diane Abbott MP Labour; Hackney North and Stoke Newington. Dr Evan Harris MP; Lib/Dem; Oxford West and Abingdon. Neil Gerrard MP; Labour; Walthamstow. Karen Buck MP; Labour; Regent's Park and North Kensington. John Bercow MP; Conservative; Buckingham. I would be very glad if you could add your name to these. There is more information at www.strangersintocitizens.org.uk. The campaign co-ordinator, Austen Ivereigh, would be very happy to answer any queries you may have. His email is [log in to unmask] and his mobile is 07905 224860. Yours sincerely, ... -- - Dr Nick Megoran, Lecturer in Human Geography, School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, GPS Office, 5th Floor, Claremont Tower. Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, England. Tel: +44 191 222 6450 Email: [log in to unmask] Website: www.megoran.org "In our time of wars, of national self-conceit, of national jealousies and hatreds ably nourished by people who pursue their own egotistic, personal or class interests, geography must be - in so far as the school may do anything to counterbalance hostile influences - a means of dissipating these prejudices and of creating other feelings more worthy of humanity." Peter Kropotkin, 'What geography ought to be', 1885.