Britain on Wednesday unveiled a series of measures to crack down on illegal immigration, including a system whereby immigrants will be reminded about their visas by mobile telephone text message.
Home Secretary John Reid's announcement came as part of a new strategy between government, police, local authorities and health providers to deny illegal immigrants access to work, state aid and other services.
Immigrant support groups immediately criticised the "get tough" plan as unrealistic and inhumane, claiming it could leave up to half a million people destitute and force them into crime and the black market. The governing Labour Party's political opponents said the initiatives were the latest from an administration that had failed to get a grip on the issue.
But Reid was unrepetant, telling British broadcaster GMTV: "Illegal immigration harms the minimum wage. "It is not fair, it undermines the rights of British workers, it steals taxpayers' money by taking services through the National Health Service or otherwise... provided by the British people, British taxpayers for British people themselves. "So, it is grossly unfair and we intend, year on year, to make it harder and harder to get benefits or services or work if you are an illegal immigrant."
A three-month pilot scheme for text message reminders about visas is due to begin next month while a "watch list" will also be set up to alert government agencies about anyone illegally applying for services.
Immigration department officials will work with police, municipal councils and tax authorities to track down illegal immigrants and block any state aid they may be receiving.
Landlords could be fined up to 20,000 pounds (29,300 euros, 38,500 dollars) for housing illegal immigrants while new systems will be put in place to identify anyone fraudulently applying for driving licences. The chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), Habib Rahman, said the measures were impractical.
"Barring up to half a million irregular migrants in the United Kingdom from access to rights and services is not a realistic or humane response to irregular migration to this country," he added.