The British government has taken decisive steps to curtail the annual influx of immigrants into the United Kingdom, introducing a set of five new laws aimed at reducing the number of people moving to the country, including a significant portion of Kenyan immigrants.

Home Secretary James Cleverly, in a statement on Monday, outlined the new measures with a goal to trim down the number of immigrants by over 300,000, addressing concerns raised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak regarding the unsustainable levels of immigration.

According to 2020 data from the United Nations' migration records, the United States of America (USA) tops the list with the highest number of Kenyan migrants at 157,000, closely followed by the UK with 139,000.

Cleverly's five-point plan, set to take effect from January 2024, includes:

Family Dependants

The new regulation prohibits overseas care workers from bringing family dependants to the UK. Cleverly revealed that over 100,000 family members accompanied care workers in the year ending September 2023. This move is motivated by concerns about immigrants' ability to care for their relatives without becoming a burden on the government.

Eligibility for Work Visa

The threshold for qualifying for a skilled worker visa in the UK has been raised from a minimum income of Ksh5 million to Ksh7.4 million annually. This adjustment applies to all five tiers of the UK visa system, with the exception of the health and care sector.

Shortage Occupation List

The Home Secretary announced the abolition of the shortage occupation list to establish a level playing field between British and foreign workers. This list previously allowed employers to pay immigrants 20% less than their British counterparts for jobs in high demand.

Annual Charges

Foreign workers using the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK will now face increased annual charges, rising from Ksh121,033 to Ksh198,424. The NHS provides affordable medical treatment for everyone and is funded through taxes.

Graduate Visas

The British government has commissioned a full review of the graduate visa route, with the Migration Advisory Committee tasked to announce measures to limit the numbers. This move suggests a reevaluation of policies concerning post-graduate immigration.

These new laws reflect the UK government's commitment to managing immigration levels, addressing concerns about the strain on public services and employment opportunities for its citizens.