Immigration and migrants

Easier to survive, get fed and housed and work under the radar? Send money home to the family and maybe one day bring them over or just save up and support the family at home, with a view to returning after a couple of years.

Perhaps someone could explain to me just why the UK is targeted by so many?
What is it about us that motivates them to risk their lives?
If they're setting sail from France they have a whole enormously wide choice of countries on the mainland , which would be a much safer journey.

Talk is cheap Cossy. Accomodating these illegal immigrants is not.

Well done Cossy, we don't know how lucky we are here. There but the grace of God ........
Thank you

We have thousands of British citizens living on the streets, in vans and cars, and sleeping on friends sofas. Yet people arriving on boats are given hotel rooms with full board on arrival and on the Bibby Stockholm boat with a gym Internet full board a bus into town etc. and they complain. Most but not all of the men arriving are economic migrants from poor countries. The smugglers make vast sums of money from this and people often drown.
We should deport them all and put our own homeless on the Bibby Stockholm or in the hotel rooms. There is a housing crisis here in the UK. Homeless especially ex veterans should get priority.

Wheniwasyourage

Good post Cossy. It’s also worth remembering that there is no such thing as an illegal person. We have made it very difficult if not impossible for people to use legal routes to get here, but that makes the routes, not the people, “illegal”.

I am unsure whether the word illegal in connection with immigrant has taken on a new meaning in English.

To me an illegal immigrant is either a person who has not entered a country legally through a port, airport or train station and fulfilled the customs and immigration authorities demands by presenting a valid passport and any other documents such as a visa , or a person who is unable to fulfill these requirements, plus in some countries prove that they have money enough to support themselves until such time as the y can obtain a work permit and a job, or that they have a guarantor willing and able to support them whilst they are waiting for a work permit etc.

The person themself is not illegal, but the circumstances of their entry into any country of which they are not a citizen or entitled to free entry to, can be illegal.

Why?

I was very struck by the comments of some South coast grans on here. I remember them mentioning the sheer number of immigrants just hanging about the streets and them feeling intimidated. Maybe they might post again about how things are?

Our country has doubled since the 70s we can’t house these young fighting age men. My step grandson had 5 new classmates in one week with very badly spoken English. Why should my neighbor go through all the paperwork and pay to live here when she could have just jumped in a dinghy for free. Call me right wing far right or whatever I don’t care but look how these ppl are shouting all the rubbish teachers in hiding. For all you do goodies with your arms open wide how many of these fighting age men are you housing. No i didn’t think so.

MelAnt2

I’m so glad I’m old as I would hate to be around when our culture has be subsumed by an overwhelming number of immigrants. This island isn’t big enough to accommodate everyone who comes here. There is evidence that when the indigenous population feel threatened by an overwhelming number of immigrants, who don’t assimilate, there will be unrest. Singapore and Fiji are good examples.

If that is your concern MelAnt2, can I just remind you of the legal immigration figures for the UK.

The provisional estimate of total long-term immigration for year ending (YE) June 2023 was 1.2 million, while emigration was 508,000, meaning that net migration was 672,000; most people arriving to the UK in the YE June 2023 were non-EU nationals (968,000), followed by EU (129,000) and British (84,000).23 Nov 2023

www.ons.gov.uk › bulletins

Illegal immigration was 52,530 for the same period.

I forgot to say that it will be the right-wing, who would then take advantage of this, which would eventually lead to the loss of democracy.

The Rawandan lady said 200 initially and more after that..

I’m so glad I’m old as I would hate to be around when our culture has be subsumed by an overwhelming number of immigrants. This island isn’t big enough to accommodate everyone who comes here. There is evidence that when the indigenous population feel threatened by an overwhelming number of immigrants, who don’t assimilate, there will be unrest. Singapore and Fiji are good examples.

Cossy

I have to comment on a new thread about some of the comments on here relating to immigrants, entering either via illegal means or via correct channels.

Those entering our country illegally, for whatever reason, make up just 1% of our overall population.

Often, but not always, they've made arduous physically and emotionally demanding journeys just to reach Europe. Often, but not always, their second language is English and sometimes they have links to the UK.

1% of our population!

Yet so much time is given to portraying them in the media as men pretending to be boys, criminals, exploiters, scroungers etc etc etc

Perhaps before swallowing all the "bad" stories about immigrants portrayed in our media, encouraged by our govt., you should, a) remember these people are human beings, b) we are here safe and sound only due to an accident of birth.

If you must "blame" someone for this situation, blame the corrupt govts from which many of these people come, blame the traffickers, blame our inept govt.

We could (not saying we should!) have housed every single asylum seeker in the last two years using the money our govt has so freely given to France and Rwanda.

Think and research before you negatively comment about immigrants.

I couldn't agree with you more.

My SiL arrived through legal channels. It took a while and he seemed to have to pay various registration costs. I suspect that it was more complicated for him as he wanted to retain citizenship of his home country therefore being dual nationality. There was a very nice welcoming ceremony at our local authority HQ.
He came in 2004 with £400 and has made a very good living here. He's created lots of jobs for others and has been a real asset to the country all round.

orly

It's "virtue signalling" (as much as I hate this newish term in our language)

It's second only to accusing someone of "racism" is they are concerned about uncontrolled immigration, whether legal or not. and the effects of uncontrolled immigration on this country be it stretching of our resources to the increase in crime especially violent crime. How many of the virtue signallers have complained about not being able to get a GP appointment?

Please tell me how trying to be a half decent human being and sharing a little is now mangled into " virtue signaling"

If indeed I am signaling, I'm wasting my time. A load of complete strangers on the internet aren't interested?

It is possible to feel many things at once. Frustration over the long wait to see a GP , frustration that people seeking asylum are prevented from working , worry for the indiginous population who are struggling and the feeling that the whole issue is being handled badly.

Its not an either/ or world.

It seems that when a person feels strongly about something and makes a considered comment on Gransnet, it is deemed to be "preaching" when the person reading it disagrees. Or it is called "virtue signalling", thus characterising it as mere attention seeking in order to demonstrate moral superiority.

Presumably, those who objected to the OP's comments do not object to comments which refer to immigrants as "illegals" or who criticize their presence in this country.

We may not be an "Oxford and Cambridge debating society, but, rather than being sarcastic, what is wrong with actually looking at facts and listening to people who may have more experience and understanding of the issues being discussed?

Has anyone come to live in the UK going through the legal way by paying and passing tests that one also pays for?
If so, what is your opinion?

We are far too soft. Australia have the right approach
Very strict rules and kick them out
All these perfectly fit males arriving by boat! They are an army in the making! Soldiers . And with dangerous religions
This country is far too soft

..

I'm sorry but can't agree with your over sentimental comments.

The majority of these illegal immigrants are NOT fleeing from unsafe war torn countries but are young economic migrating males.

They've already passed through wonderful countries that millions of us save all year to be able to spend a couple of weeks in one of them.

You see them arrive with mobiles far more expensive and modern than mine and with state of the art trainers on their feet.

If they don't like where they come from then they should stay and work and campaign for changes there.

You should protect your homeland and family as my Grandpops did in WW2 - not run away leaving your mothers and sisters to fend for themselves.

I'm not unhappy that the threat of Rwanda is making many leave for Ireland. Maybe it will help ease the housing crisis and allow my young employees a chance to get a small home of their own from the Council that has for years prioritised immigrants over them.

Most people I know agree with me. You might not and that's your perogative. But as far as I'm concerned you looks after your family, friends and neighbours first. When that's all good then you can spread your net further.

..

I am a migrant and we worked very,very hard to get where we are today. My close friends are Polish and fled Poland as refugees with nothing. They worked very,very hard and are now quite wealthy. No one gave them any handouts or free accomodation except briefly when they first came. They were put in a hostel in the middle of the bush . Did they complain ?No. Did people march around saying they were being mistreated? No. The UK should choose who settles and anyone who comes via people smugglers and jumps the queue should be sent right back. It is not fair on those who are legitimately waiting their turn for a start. Vietnam citizens are not persecuted. They are economic migrants, they would not be put in prison. Many have settled here legitimately and contribute a lot but they did it the proper way, not hitching a lift with crappy criminals.

I noticed that the Daily Mail recently boasted about the one person who has gone to Rwanda. He actually wanted to go and he was given £3000 financial assistance.

Well said Cossy - I am so ashamed of our Government for the way they are “dealing” (I use the term loosely) with this - they should be looking at fixing their own maladministration before trying to win votes from racists and bigots by imposing their Rwanda plan.
I know there is no easy solution but surely fixing the immigration administration is a first step - cheaper than the Rwanda plan too!

1% then another 1% then another...

My family lost everything in the second world war
to save this country .Now we are expected to give it away.1 percent seems off to me