Yeah, right

According to an article in the Metro, titled "First ID cards for foreign workers":

The first phase of the government's controversial identity card scheme has come into force. Foreigners applying for student and marriage visas will be the first to need the cards to extend their stays in Britain as they are often suspec­ted of trying to abuse the immigration system.

Meanwhile, in other news:

Up to 400 criminals involved in a foreign prisoner scandal, including some of the worst offenders, have been told they can stay in Britain, the Home Office has disclosed. Less than a third of the 1,013 convicts have been deported two and half years after the scandal broke and subsequently cost Charles Clarke his job as Home Secretary. And many more could end up staying because 90 are still missing, 31 are in jail again and 160 are still going through the process.