It looks like the mistakes of the 30's are being repeated. It starts with scapegoating.

I don't quite get the argument: "oh, a legal immigrant may not have a passport to prove that they have leave to remain in the UK so the law is unfair"
I mean, I was made to prove that I can legally live and work in the UK many times since I moved here 8 years ago, I don't find that xenophobic. Surely everyone should have ID to prove who they are?

The same here in Germany, I need my passport and my German social security number (NI number) to get a job and I have to carry my passport with me - German citizens only need to carry their ID card.

That was probably because you are not British, I had never been asked for any ID. I would have to provide NI details on starting. Though I know employers who would only recruit foreigners because of the anti social hours the locals would not want to do the job.

Its every employer responsibility to ensure they can proved every employee is legally allowed to work in the UK.
Every couple of years we have solicitors in to take photocopies of our passports, so if immigration officials came in the company can prove the employees are allowed.

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What if you do not have a passport?

Then you have to show a lot more paperwork and is a pain in the backside for those that don't.
As we have a lot of non UK nationals working for us, HR tend to be on the ball making sure they have the right visas etc.

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I think that it does impact some businesses a lot more than others. The problem is that some of these laws are purely xenophobic.

Over here it is a big problem, especially on building sites. The Zola (Customs) are always raiding them, looking for 'black' workers (those working cash in hand) and illegal, who don't have a work permit to work in Germany. Restaurants are also often raided.

The fairest solution would be a general id card scheme for all UK residents.

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That would go down as well as a bacon butty store at Mecca. They've tried it once and it failed with a big fat F.

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But does Spartacus have a work permit?

But why is it xenophobic? As a foreigner living abroad, I have to have a passport with me if I want to go back home. Anyone living abroad should have ID to show who they are surely. I am lucky that I also own a ID card as in France it is compulsory (though not necessarily enforced) to carry ID with you at all time.

It is not a right to settle in a foreign country, all immigrants are aware of that.