Immigrants Are Better Citizens Than Brits

By JAMES SLACK
Friday, July 13, 2007
Daily Mail

Immigrants are "better citizens" than those born in Britain, a migration expert has said.

The extraordinary attack came from Keith Best, head of the Immigration Advisory Service - a government-backed charity which receives £13million of public money every year.

The former Tory MP was responding to an article in the Mail revealing that a foreigner is granted a UK passport every five minutes.

He said: "These people have actively sought British citizenship because they want to make a contribution to the UK.

"I am not sure how many people born in this country have the same commitment. The tests for citizenship are greater than they have ever been.

"We are now turning immigrants into better citizens than people born with a British passport."

...The IAS recently called for an end to restrictions on the number of Romanians and Bulgarians allowed into the country.

It has also demanded an amnesty for illegal immigrants, despite fears such a move would encourage those who plan to enter the country illegally.

Mr Best unleashed his attack in response to the revelation that more than a million migrants have been handed passports over the past decade - an average of 102,000 every year.

...The row came as the Home Office defended the rate at which citizenship is being granted.

A spokesman said: "The Government strongly believes that the UK should encourage those that are settled in the UK to play a full part in their wider community and that the acquisition of British citizenship is a key part of a successful integration into society.

"The process to citizenship must be a gold standard. Anyone applying for citizenship must first meet the Government's strict criteria."