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Immigration and migrants

(683 Posts)
Cossy Wed 01-May-24 10:50:14

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.

MaizieD Wed 01-May-24 18:47:32

I think it's really important to remember that asylum seekers arriving in small boats only became illegal in July 2023, prior to that they were seen as legal until they had had their claim refused.

It is still 'legal' under international law, though, is it not, foxie? Another incidence of the UK making itself an international pariah...

choughdancer Wed 01-May-24 18:54:54

MaizieD

^I think it's really important to remember that asylum seekers arriving in small boats only became illegal in July 2023, prior to that they were seen as legal until they had had their claim refused.^

It is still 'legal' under international law, though, is it not, foxie? Another incidence of the UK making itself an international pariah...

Good point MaizieD.

Cossy Wed 01-May-24 18:55:03

Wyllow3

I think you like the adversarial approach GSM as do some others (not me)

It makes it hard to have a conversation that tries to give references and detailed information and points especially where there are truths on both sides of a coin to be acknowledged.

I respect GSM, her education, her plain speaking, even her opinions, BUT I quite often don’t agree with her, and I think we both respects each other’s right to express our own views.

We stand at different ends of the political spectrum.

Whilst I understand her concerns, I don’t blame the “boat people”.

Wyllow3 Wed 01-May-24 18:56:04

No, I didn't miss it, GSM, but how do we know it won't reduce boats/lorries if we don't try?

If people can access centres they won't be forced to destroy documents as a condition of the people smugglers.

Dinahmo Wed 01-May-24 18:57:12

Did anyone see the BBC News at 6? There was an item about the little girl who died last week when trying to cross the channel. Apparently she was trodden on by other immigrants trying to get onto the boat. She was 7, the youngest of 3 and had lived in Europe all her life.

An unintended consequence of the UK govt's intransigence in dealing with asylum seekers.

Wyllow3 Wed 01-May-24 19:00:13

Yes, It was alluded to on the other thread, but the interpretation was given as an example of how nasty immigrants (all?) are.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 01-May-24 19:00:53

Dinahmo

Did anyone see the BBC News at 6? There was an item about the little girl who died last week when trying to cross the channel. Apparently she was trodden on by other immigrants trying to get onto the boat. She was 7, the youngest of 3 and had lived in Europe all her life.

An unintended consequence of the UK govt's intransigence in dealing with asylum seekers.

This is not the U.K. government’s fault the family have been refused asylum in Sweden and Belgium.

If you want to blame anyone try the traffickers or the Somalians who trampled on a 7 yr old little girl.

Coronation Wed 01-May-24 19:01:05

@dinahmo the family were refused asylum in Europe as they said Basra in Iraq is safe. That's why they were crossing to try and gain asylum in UK when they were refused in Europe.

That's not the UK government's fault its the smugglers who make profits out of people.

Cossy Wed 01-May-24 19:05:22

Wyllow3

Yes, It was alluded to on the other thread, but the interpretation was given as an example of how nasty immigrants (all?) are.

Any loss of life in this way is utterly tragic and again I hold traffickers responsible! It seems it was they who directed the young group of Somalians to jump on the already full boat.

foxie48 Wed 01-May-24 19:06:13

Wyllow3

Yes, It was alluded to on the other thread, but the interpretation was given as an example of how nasty immigrants (all?) are.

Actually it was implied that people were using their children as human shields whereas the truth was the father wanted to give his children a better life than they would get in Iraq!

GrannyGravy13 Wed 01-May-24 19:08:52

foxie48 on the BBC interview it was said the children have only known life in the West, I think some if not all three were born in Europe.

Cossy Wed 01-May-24 19:21:16

GrannyGravy13

foxie48 on the BBC interview it was said the children have only known life in the West, I think some if not all three were born in Europe.

Awful and very sad and I understand the parents desperation. I would not want to live in Basra and Sweden might think it’s safe but it’s still showing as High Risk on some sites for terrorism.

OldFrill Wed 01-May-24 19:29:44

The 7 year old girl died on Tuesday along with 4 other people.

foxie48 Wed 01-May-24 19:42:57

Yes, the children were born in Sweden and he didn't want to take them to Iraq.

Namsnanny Wed 01-May-24 21:39:05

GrannyGravy13

foxie48 on the BBC interview it was said the children have only known life in the West, I think some if not all three were born in Europe.

All I was told was the poor little one was trampled to death.

Why would a parent put his baby girl at risk if they already live in Europe?

Deedaa Wed 01-May-24 21:47:47

*Namsnanny The father said they had been trying to get asylum in a European country for 14 years and crossing the channel was the last resort.

NotSpaghetti Wed 01-May-24 21:53:49

Dont be sorry NotSpaghetti you're just voicing your oponion👍
I dont agree though🤣

🤣 Namsnanny
The apology was actually to Cossy as I was making assumptions as to her thoughts/intension and as I can't mind-read was aware I might be wrong!

Primrose53 Wed 01-May-24 22:36:10

Namsnanny

GrannyGravy13

foxie48 on the BBC interview it was said the children have only known life in the West, I think some if not all three were born in Europe.

All I was told was the poor little one was trampled to death.

Why would a parent put his baby girl at risk if they already live in Europe?

Quite. He had already been refused asylum in Belgium and Sweden so why did he think England was going to grant him asylum?

Wyllow3 Thu 02-May-24 00:04:26

I don't think we'll ever know unless he's interviewed.

I wanted to find out more about the world wide situation.

Data on migration from UN.
According to the latest estimates prepared by the Population Division, in 2020, the number of international migrants worldwide – people residing in a country other than their country of birth – reached 281 million. Female migrants constituted 48 per cent of international migrants.

75% of migrants settle in adjoining countries often living in refugee camps all over the world. Fleeing war or famine.

We really do have to try and work with our neighbours on people smuggling routes and realise that our little country is only part of a wider story.

Elegran Thu 02-May-24 08:40:30

Strategic bump for t***l treatment.

Namsnanny Thu 02-May-24 12:14:59

NotSpaghetti

^Dont be sorry NotSpaghetti you're just voicing your oponion👍^
I dont agree though🤣

🤣 Namsnanny
The apology was actually to Cossy as I was making assumptions as to her thoughts/intension and as I can't mind-read was aware I might be wrong!

😊 silly me!

Cossy Thu 02-May-24 12:18:26

Morning Namsnanny and thank you. I’d never intentionally just post for a reaction or be deliberately contentious and I do respect all people’s right of their own views and beliefs too, though often I may not agree.

Cossy Thu 02-May-24 12:22:14

Primrose53

“Namsnanny
GrannyGravy13
foxie48 on the BBC interview it was said the children have only known life in the West, I think some if not all three were born in Europe.
All I was told was the poor little one was trampled to death.

Why would a parent put his baby girl at risk if they already live in Europe?
Quite. He had already been refused asylum in Belgium and Sweden so why did he think England was going to grant him asylum?”

Because he was desperate and felt he had no option, with a very few days he and his entire family were being deported to Basra due to Sweden deeming it a safe place. Tragic.

Namsnanny Thu 02-May-24 12:37:27

Tragic for the little girl I agree.
But doesnt it all depend on the reason why he was refused asylum by others?

Wyllow3 Thu 02-May-24 12:44:41

choughdancer

MaizieD

I think it's really important to remember that asylum seekers arriving in small boats only became illegal in July 2023, prior to that they were seen as legal until they had had their claim refused.

It is still 'legal' under international law, though, is it not, foxie? Another incidence of the UK making itself an international pariah...

Good point MaizieD.

I wanted to return to this.

It seems to me that the government steamed ahead with their "plan"

*make it "illegal

*since they are illegal, send them to Rwanda

instead of speeding up the process and working with European and sometimes world forces to target people smugglers.

Now thinking of the problem of sheer numbers meaning that those suffering and genuine have now been labelled illegal - and how to reduce economic migration.

Better immigration guidelines for workers experienced in areas that we need and access to apply ie those with papers, experience etc

Is it worth trying through international social media to reduce the smugglers' image of streets paved with gold?

In 2022 the UK government had meetings with the Albanian movement which has reduced the number of economic migrants from Albania.

I was thinking/googling about young Vietmanese people whose families are conned into spending huge amounts to get a young person across the world - my googling doesn't suggest a government interested in intervention.