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Why do Asylum Seekers cross the channel on small boats

(416 Posts)

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Cossy Sun 11-Aug-24 12:12:53

This is a thread in answer to a question on a thread totally unrelated to the crossings.

This isn’t about the rights and wrongs of it, or why Asylum Seekers don’t seek Asylum in the first safe country they come across, though if you do wish to know more click on this link!

www.unhcr.org/uk/refugees#:~:text=They%20provide%20the%20universal%20definition,freedom%20would%20be%20at%20risk.

For reasons why people seek asylum here in the UK:-

www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/information/refugee-asylum-facts/understanding-channel-crossings/

www.redcross.org.uk/stories/migration-and-displacement/refugees-and-asylum-seekers/5-reasons-people-cross-the-channel

theconversation.com/ive-spent-time-with-refugees-in-french-coastal-camps-and-they-told-me-the-governments-rwanda-plan-is-not-putting-them-off-coming-to-the-uk-221798

Enough info here (I hope) to both explain and to be balanced.

nanna8 Mon 12-Aug-24 00:23:50

It’s nice to live in Lala land though. I thought this was about boat people, not those genuine asylum seekers who go through correct channels. I suppose the UK takes pressure off other parts of the world because the people arriving on boats know they will be fed, clothed and given shelter. Looking back, I guess you could see it as reparations. Unfortunately most are not from those countries previously invaded by Britain.

MayBee70 Mon 12-Aug-24 03:26:17

How strange. I really thought we’d invaded Afghanistan confused?

ronib Mon 12-Aug-24 06:11:24

MayBee70 You have heard of the Taliban?
What is your take on them?

MayBee70 Mon 12-Aug-24 06:26:05

ronib

MayBee70 You have heard of the Taliban?
What is your take on them?

I don’t understand your point. We left the Afghan people to the hands of the Taliban, that’s why so many are persecuted and are trying to escape (especially the ones that worked for us that we totally let down).

David49 Mon 12-Aug-24 06:28:39

Whitewavemark2

Primrose53

They cross in small boats because theFrench don’t stopthem.

Your post clearly shows that you haven’t read a single link.

There are plenty of videos of French police standing by and allowing boats to be launched.

Genuine migrants want to come to the UK because they speak English well or have family here, others are trafficked here for illegal purposes.
The UK gets a lower share of migrants than almost any other European country so we dont get any sympathy from them, France will take our money to reduce boats crossing the channel but are not really committed to stopping them.

Mamie Mon 12-Aug-24 06:37:00

www.tf1info.fr/justice-faits-divers/comment-la-france-tente-d-empecher-les-migrants-de-traverser-la-manche-en-small-boat-2164859.html

Mamie Mon 12-Aug-24 06:38:35

This is from 2020, but if you look at the TF1 website you will see the recent operations.

ronib Mon 12-Aug-24 06:40:15

MayBee70 The USA withdrew from Afghanistan. In 2021 the Taliban returned to power.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 12-Aug-24 07:43:31

David49

Whitewavemark2

Primrose53

They cross in small boats because theFrench don’t stopthem.

Your post clearly shows that you haven’t read a single link.

There are plenty of videos of French police standing by and allowing boats to be launched.

Genuine migrants want to come to the UK because they speak English well or have family here, others are trafficked here for illegal purposes.
The UK gets a lower share of migrants than almost any other European country so we dont get any sympathy from them, France will take our money to reduce boats crossing the channel but are not really committed to stopping them.

Read mamie’s link

Iam64 Mon 12-Aug-24 08:25:27

ronib

MayBee70 The USA withdrew from Afghanistan. In 2021 the Taliban returned to power.

We withdrew along with the USA leaving many people who had worked with the US and UK at risk of death at the hands of the Taliban. In my northern town, the largest group of asylum seekers are from Afghanistan.

Iam64 Mon 12-Aug-24 08:27:11

nanna8

It’s nice to live in Lala land though. I thought this was about boat people, not those genuine asylum seekers who go through correct channels. I suppose the UK takes pressure off other parts of the world because the people arriving on boats know they will be fed, clothed and given shelter. Looking back, I guess you could see it as reparations. Unfortunately most are not from those countries previously invaded by Britain.

nanna8, see MOnica’s post earlier about the young man whose family sold everything to pay smugglers to get him to the UK. We don’t have correct channels.

Cossy Mon 12-Aug-24 08:31:29

nanna8

It’s nice to live in Lala land though. I thought this was about boat people, not those genuine asylum seekers who go through correct channels. I suppose the UK takes pressure off other parts of the world because the people arriving on boats know they will be fed, clothed and given shelter. Looking back, I guess you could see it as reparations. Unfortunately most are not from those countries previously invaded by Britain.

Lala land? There are no “correct channels” What don’t you understand about this statement!

Cossy Mon 12-Aug-24 08:35:17

Chestnut

And here are some of the countries they come from.

You photographed a map from local TV show, from one organisation that deals with refugees and decided that this reflects refugees across the UK?

keepingquiet Mon 12-Aug-24 09:08:37

The map in itself shows nothing, in fact it seems to show some countries with no refugees such as Somalia and Ethiopia, where the numbers are relatively high.
The Refugee Council claims that the UK takes only 1% of the total world refugee figures.
41% of all refugees are children.
UK refugees receive a government allowance of £7 per day.
According to the Migration Observatory web-site the asylum seekers are coming from: Afghanistan Iran Pakistan India and Bangladesh.
Other countries include Turkey Iraq Eritrea Albania Syria Sudan Vietnam Brazil and China.

BevSec Mon 12-Aug-24 09:12:19

Dr Max Pemberton in the Daly Mail today reports treating a convicted rapist who was indignant about being convicted because the woman he raped was not wearing a hijab so was ok to rape!

Doodledog Mon 12-Aug-24 09:19:55

What does 'it's nice to live in La La Land' actually mean? I do wish people wouldn't speak in meaningless cliches in serious discussions. It can only lead to misunderstandings.

Deedaa Mon 12-Aug-24 09:19:57

The mother of the woman who died after being crushed in a boat has said that the family will continue trying to get across the channel, because it's the only chance they've got. If the death of one of their family doesn't stop them what will?

GrannyGravy13 Mon 12-Aug-24 10:07:39

According to the Home Office 703 migrants were detected coming ashore yesterday on 11 boats. Two migrants drowned.

I wonder how many were not detected

This really cannot continue…

Chestnut Mon 12-Aug-24 10:07:40

Cossy

Chestnut

And here are some of the countries they come from.

You photographed a map from local TV show, from one organisation that deals with refugees and decided that this reflects refugees across the UK?

I haven't 'decided' anything. But if this shows all those African and Middle Eastern countries are heading to one small part of England then we really are in trouble!

Cossy Mon 12-Aug-24 10:22:46

BevSec

Dr Max Pemberton in the Daly Mail today reports treating a convicted rapist who was indignant about being convicted because the woman he raped was not wearing a hijab so was ok to rape!

Which is appalling and unacceptable and he should be deported. Let’s not tar everyone with the same brush eh

Chestnut Mon 12-Aug-24 10:36:29

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

LizzieDrip Mon 12-Aug-24 10:37:24

GG I agree that asylum seekers should not need to use dangerous boats in order to seek refuge. There should be safe and legal routes for them to apply for asylum.

Wyllow3 Mon 12-Aug-24 11:15:27

Full facts
fullfact.org/immigration/are-there-4000-foreign-murderers-and-rapists-living-freely-uk/

on crime, does not back up rumours in the DM.

MaizieD Mon 12-Aug-24 11:16:20

Chestnut

Cossy

Chestnut

And here are some of the countries they come from.

You photographed a map from local TV show, from one organisation that deals with refugees and decided that this reflects refugees across the UK?

I haven't 'decided' anything. But if this shows all those African and Middle Eastern countries are heading to one small part of England then we really are in trouble!

There might only have been one asylum seeker from some of those countries. Just because asylum seekers are coming to the UK from many different countries it doesn't mean that every single one of those countries is offloading its population onto us...

Do get this into perspective...

Shinamae Mon 12-Aug-24 11:33:46

When we have over 1 million people on council waiting list for social housing where an earth are these people going to live?