Almost 1,000 migrants crossed the Channel yesterday.

The thing is, they aren’t all arriving from war torn hell holes, they’re arriving from France.

Oreo …

From Amnesty International:

“Seeking asylum from persecution is lawful – refugees don’t need anyone’s permission to do so.

This really ought not be hard to understand. The Refugee Convention is to give effect to the right of everyone:

“…to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.”

The Convention was made in 1951, in the wake of the systematic murder of millions of Jewish people – several of whom had been prevented from seeking safety including in the UK from the Nazi regime that then murdered them.

The Convention requires all countries to share in the responsibility of providing asylum to refugees – not just countries that border conflict or repressive regimes.

And it does not, therefore, require refugees to seek asylum in any particular country – whether or not that country is labelled a ‘first’ or ‘first safe’ country. But it does prohibit penalising refugees for crossing borders without prior permission merely to seek asylum.”

That includes purely economic reasons as well as drug pushers who see a lucrative market waiting for them? I hope not.

Thanks for that LizzieDrip well said 👏

nanna what evidence do you have that people fleeing war and persecution in search of safety are likely to be ‘drug pushers’?

Those seeking a ‘better life’ for themselves and their families (often referred to as ‘economic migrants’) are following in the footsteps of the parents of Sunak, Braverman, Patel et al, who frequently, proudly state that their parents came to the UK ‘with very little, in search of a better life; that they worked hard and contributed to the country’. True! Wonderful!

That’s all so-called ‘economic migrants’ want to do! Talk about pulling the ladder up after you’ve benefitted from it

Not forgetting all the migrants to Australia seeking a better life ….…just saying. Ten pounds was a small price to pay to get there safely.

But at least they went legally and at the exhortation of the Australian government back in the day! Big difference.

Of course silverlining. Australia is a country build on, and by, immigration - largely ‘economic migrants’ from around the world in search of ‘a better life’.

built not build

nanna8

That includes purely economic reasons as well as drug pushers who see a lucrative market waiting for them? I hope not.

That statement shows how little you know about drug pushers
Drug pushers don’t travel in inflatable ribs. Who is on those ribs are young people who have been promised a job. The problem was, the pond life who took their money didn’t tell them what the job was: pushing drugs.
But to be correct they are distributing drugs and farming cannabis.

Curlywhirly

Thanks for that LizzieDrip well said 👏

Yes, well said!

FriedGreenTomatoes2

But at least they went legally and at the exhortation of the Australian government back in the day! Big difference.

Its nigh on impossible to seek asylum legally in the UK, as you have to first be in the country to apply!

Oreo

The thing is, they aren’t all arriving from war torn hell holes, they’re arriving from France.

No, they're arriving from the war torn hell holes via France.

MaizieD

maddyfour

A baby died today.
This is too much.
It needs to be stopped.

Well, it clearly isn't being stopped by restricting the supply of boats, is it?

We need safe routes and efficient processing of applications for asylum.

Well said.

We need safe routes and efficient processing of applications for asylum

Exactly Nano14!

Nano14

Oreo

The thing is, they aren’t all arriving from war torn hell holes, they’re arriving from France.

No, they're arriving from the war torn hell holes via France.

Didn't know there were wars in Albania, Bangladesh or any south Asian country, such as Vietnam.

Freya there is persecution based on religion and sexual orientation in those countries.

However, personally, I have no issue with people applying to live here on economic grounds i.e. in search of a better life. If, once here, they work and contribute to society, what’s wrong with that - no matter where they come from.

I realise my view is at odds with several posters on this thread but, IMO, we (led by the government) should stop viewing immigration as a problem to be solved and start viewing immigrants as an asset to our wonderfully diverse, multi racial country.

I think the emphasis in the short term has to be efficient processing of applications for asylum.

Because of the lack of assessments over a number of years there is a huge backlog. People arriving know there will be a long wait.

Yes the capability is being built up, no it won't happen overnight - buildings, trained staff.

Safe routes is a problematic one. Needs different countries to agree to processing UK claims in their country and who is responsible for those turned down.

I do think that those turned down for asylum who have no skills we need to be deported back providing its a safe country, which is current UK policy.

should stop viewing immigration as a problem to be solved and start viewing immigrants as an asset to our wonderfully diverse, multi racial country

Most of these migrants cost the UK taxpayers an awful lot of money though LizzieDrip over their years here. Most are net recipients. Many articles have been written on the subject. Most are not highly skilled engineers, doctors and dentists (people we need) but have a low skill set. They arrive and need benefits to actually get by. Many work under the radar for contacts already here (hence the pull factor as ID is not necessary). We are too soft.

nanna8

I haven’t got any empathy for them.
My empathy is only with those who go through the correct channels and are given asylum as genuine refugees escaping persecution. I really feel for them and wonder what they are thinking about these queue jumpers and their crooked organisers.

As Lizzie points out, there is no legal method for the majority of asylum seekers. To claim asylum in the UK, you have to be in the UK.

FriedGreenTomatoes2
Good point. I have seen several interviews of would be immigrants who do have a skill set we need.
I have seen fewer interviews of those who in the second group you mention and I wonder why not.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

^should stop viewing immigration as a problem to be solved and start viewing immigrants as an asset to our wonderfully diverse, multi racial country^

Most of these migrants cost the UK taxpayers an awful lot of money though LizzieDrip over their years here. Most are net recipients. Many articles have been written on the subject. Most are not highly skilled engineers, doctors and dentists (people we need) but have a low skill set. They arrive and need benefits to actually get by. Many work under the radar for contacts already here (hence the pull factor as ID is not necessary). We are too soft.

👏👏👏👏👏👏

FriedGreenTomatoes yes, I’m sure there have been many, many articles written on the subject. Do you have any examples and/or sources?

Here is an extract from an academic study entitled “The Fiscal Effects of Immigration to the UK” by The Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM) at
University College London:

Our analysis thus suggests that – rather than being a drain on the UK’s fiscal system – immigrants arriving since the early 2000s have made a net contribution to its public finances, a reality that contrasts starkly with the view often maintained in public debate

I can provide a link to the entire report, if you wish.

Well just keep on keeping on and deal with the civil unrest if that is what floats your boat. Vietnam is not at war, it is a lovely country.Last time I looked Albania wasn’t at war,either. As I clearly said before, people should be able to seek asylum and be given all the help they need but the country needs to make sure it knows who is coming in and the circumstances they are ‘fleeing’ from. Commonsense.

As I clearly said before, people should be able to seek asylum and be given all the help they need but the country needs to make sure it knows who is coming in and the circumstances they are ‘fleeing’ from

That’s great nanna.

So we’re in agreement then, that the current system of applying for asylum in the UK is not fit for purpose, because one can only apply for asylum when one is physically on ‘British soil’.

Thereby, it forces genuine asylum seekers to enter the country via irregular routes in order to state their claim.