Crossword Genius

Organs of state heartlessly start on immigrants (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

uteri

'organs' is the definition.
(plural of uterus)

'state heartlessly start on immigrants' is the wordplay.
'state' becomes 'utter' (both can mean to say).
'heartlessly' suggests removing the centre.
'start on' suggests taking the first letters (I've seen 'starts on' mean this).
'utter' with its centre removed is 'uter'.
The first letter of 'immigrants' is 'i'.
'uter'+'i'='UTERI'

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for uteri that I've seen before include "several organs" , "Developing places" , "Wombs" , "baby carriers" , "organs, in hospital patients" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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