Island borders 'open'

GUERNSEY'S borders are open to immigrants living illegally in the UK and Eire. Immigration chief Phil Taylor admitted yesterday that the island was powerless to prevent a repeat of the case of Eusebiu Alexa. The Romanian, posing as a Greek national, managed to evade authorities and worked at the PEH for eight months.

Mr Alexa was arrested two weeks ago and later jailed by the Magistrate's Court. He now faces deportation today.

But Guernsey is open to other illegal immigrants prepared to try their luck. Even potential terrorists would be able to enter the island freely.

The loophole exists because the Channel Islands are part of a common travel area along with the UK, Eire and the Isle of Man.

'Once you are inside the common travel area, you are free to move about without going through any other form of immigration control,' said Mr Taylor.

His officers do not check passengers coming off boats or flights from the UK.

'We assume that if they come from the UK, they were over there legally and therefore can come here legally.'

But it is estimated that 60,000 immigrants enter the UK illegally every year. Any of them are effectively free to come here.

'We do not meet people who come here on domestic services from the UK. Those people are already deemed to be in the common travel area legally but, of course, there are thousands that are not.'

Mr Taylor said the only way to block all illegal immigrants who had got into the UK from coming to Guernsey would be to check every individual entering the island.

'There has to be a balance. Remember that the vast majority coming here are doing so legitimately. Those people have an expectation that they will be able to get off the plane or boat without being searched.'

Some States members are concerned that Mr Alexa evaded detection for eight months. They have called for an inquiry.

But Roger Berry, the president of the Board of Administration, which has political responsibility for Customs and Immigration, said he had not been asked about the matter by any deputies.

'I have heard nothing at all ' so people must be terribly, terribly upset about this,' he said.

*Mr Taylor's comments do not refer to the specific case of Mr Alexa. They are meant as general statements of immigration policy.