Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009
The Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Prior to the Act, residents who had spent five years living in the United Kingdom were able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Under the Act, five years of residence leads to "probationary citizenship", which can lead to full citizenship after earning a certain number of "points", such as volunteering or "civic activism."
The act gives customs and immigration powers to staff of the UK Border Agency to deal with the smuggling of drugs, tobacco and weapons.
The act imposes a duty on the Secretary of State to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the UK.