UK Plans Digital ID Cards to Tackle Illegal Immigration
The UK’s new digital ID card scheme, unveiled by Keir Starmer on September 26, raises two significant questions. Is it a remedy for unlawful immigration? Will it grant the government excessive authority to surveil individuals? These questions are poised to take center stage in ongoing discussions and debates for the foreseeable future. A petition has been posted, prompting civil liberty groups and politicians to raise questions about the value of the scheme. But what is the truth? The new scheme will establish a universal form of identification that can be stored on mobile phones, akin to the NHS app and other existing digital cards. When accessing public services, the ID could be utilized in a manner akin to similar schemes implemented across Europe, presenting the potential for a more streamlined process. Since 2002, Estonia has been renowned for its digital ID system.
One aspect of the new scheme that may be overlooked in the forthcoming debate is the potential benefits in reducing bureaucracy, costs, fraud, and waiting times for individuals seeking to prove their eligibility for certain services. Although there are apprehensions regarding ID cards from a civil liberties perspective, it is important to consider their role in enhancing efficiency. Another crucial aspect of this framework is overseeing who possesses the authorization to work in the UK. Individuals seeking employment or housing in the UK would require one, superseding the existing method of utilizing various documents like driving licenses, national insurance numbers, and gas bills. Consequently, there is an anticipation that this will influence illegal immigration by discouraging individuals without the right to be in the UK from seeking employment. Employers and landlords would be required to scrutinize ID cards to verify the identity of applicants. The challenge of addressing the influx of illegal immigrants has remained a persistent issue for both the current Labour government and the preceding Conservative administration. The allure of the UK is partly tied to the employment prospects accessible to individuals who manage to arrive and integrate into the society.
In principle, the current eVisas scheme and the new digital ID card would restrict access to legitimate work for individuals entering the country illegally. However, organizations like Migrants’ Rights Network have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the eVisas scheme for those seeking to validate their immigration status. The political discourse surrounding the efforts to halt small boat crossings may appear to be an indirect approach to a pressing issue; however, restricting access to employment could significantly affect the attractiveness of the UK from the outset. Individuals attempting to remain in the UK without detection would have to engage in the shadow economy and reside in housing that does not require identification verification. The shadow economy is estimated to constitute 10.8% of GDP in the UK. Both activities could result in heightened reliance on organized crime groups and human traffickers. Research indicates that technology has played a crucial role in the reduction of crime over the past two decades. Efforts to combat fraud have frequently centered on enhancing security measures related to identification procedures, exemplified by the implementation of facial recognition technology in passports. Digital ID cards may represent the next advanced solution required to tackle illegal immigration. ID cards have been attempted and suggested previously with comparable objectives, indicating that this is not a groundbreaking concept. Furthermore, we all possess a variety of digital identification on our smartphones, which means that, in many ways, individuals are not being asked to undertake something that is unfamiliar to them.
The notion that the card is both mandatory and universal may indeed capture the public’s attention and concern. If it is solely utilized in the defined contexts of accessing public services, pursuing employment, or securing rented accommodation, then there is no reason to perceive the scheme as anything beyond a novel approach to efficiency. Will the requirement to present the card outside of these circumstances become a standard procedure in the pursuit of undocumented immigrants? What occurs for individuals who lack access to their digital ID card, or choose not to obtain one? Will it create a division in society by offering increased safeguards against illegal immigration?
