Guernsey will be adhering to new UK immigration laws

Friday 27 November 2020

As part of ongoing Brexit negotiations, the UK has drawn up a new immigration act and it has been agreed in the States that Guernsey will be following suit.

The Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination Act 2020 will replace free movement between the UK and EU.

It will see us start collecting and processing Biometric date. This is the process of recording various physical identifying features such as fingerprints.

Home Affairs President Deputy Rob Prow outlined who this will affect: “The new order will repeal provisions relating to free movement of the European economic area EEA citizens and their family members and bring them under bailiwick immigration control."

“It will protect the status of Irish citizens in the Bailiwick once their EU free movement rights are ended in the UK.”

EU nationals are being reminded to sign up to the EU settlement scheme as soon as possible.

Pictured: Border control agents will be required to process fingerprints and other Biometric date in certain cirucmstances.

Concerns were raised in the States about the increased power of Border Control Agents.

“We’re encouraged to have more and more subtlety in detail in legislative nuances,” said Deputy John Gollop, “when we all know what we’re talking about, we’re talking about border control and border security.”

Deputy Prow stressed the legislation will simply extend powers that already exist, and that Border Agents can always be held accountable.

It was unanimously voted in during this week's States meeting. 

Pictured top: The new order will bring us in line with the UK following Brexit.