The former Bishop of Rochester wrote in an open letter in The Guardian that recent events have shown the home office has been driven by "inappropriate business models" and "have been not only incompetent but callous in dealing with human dignity and liberty".
He said government's policies have been based on "wealth and property rather than on grounds of justice and compassion" and gave the examples of students who he said would not have had the opportunity to study in the UK if they were poorer and also the example of British citizens who marry non-EU citizens and find it much more challenging if they don't have sufficient wealth.
He said this was "depriving the poor of a basic right to family life, which continues to be enjoyed by EU citizens living here".
Bishop Michael concluded: "What we have at the moment is immigration for the rich on dubious grounds that they 'integrate better'."
He said for a country which he described as a having a long tradition of welcoming people, "this is shameful".
He also issued a message to the new Home Secretary, Sajid Javid: "I do hope that the new home secretary will be able to look at the fundamental problems underlying our immigration laws."
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