Shocking news this morning. On the tv and in the papers.

Casdon

I just wish that people wouldn’t jump to the headlines in one faction of the media and post something as though it is the full facts. There is no point having any form of discussion until we know whether it is true, ie widely reported, or a distortion of the facts. Surely that isn’t too much to ask?

Thanks Casdon

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Apparently there are over one million migrants living here in the UK who have no right to be here.

600,000 of them are living in London. Just think about that huge number for a moment.

It equates to TEN football stadiums full to capacity in our capital city.

No wonder we’re broke. It’s dispiriting. Our borders are so leaky it’s not worth pretending any more that we have them.

What do you think about this newly released information?

There’s no doubt at all that we have serious issues around illegal immigration, particularly as it is a big, powerful business with these gangs that bring people in illegally - they make a tremendous amount of money, that’s why they do it. However, I do think it’s very important to unpick carefully these ‘‘grab your attention” headlines and seek out the true facts rather take as given what these newspapers tell us with their sensationalist comments. Never take things at face value - research, research, research.

Let's face it, illegal immigration has been the thorn in the side of governments, not just in the UK, for years and no-one has got a clue how to start dealing with it.

As I said above, no reports yet have actually given the source of this information for us to check. All allegations based on allusions to Thames Water, but not the source report and its dates.

Is there an underlying agenda to this OP?

Yes, as in my post above, I would suggest.
"Let's face it, illegal immigration has been the thorn in the side of governments, not just in the UK, for years and no-one has got a clue how to start dealing with it."

Sending people to Mars? Let's sort out this planet first. We have the technology and the means but not the will to all work together internationally to solve the problems.

Ziplok

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Apparently there are over one million migrants living here in the UK who have no right to be here.

600,000 of them are living in London. Just think about that huge number for a moment.

It equates to TEN football stadiums full to capacity in our capital city.

No wonder we’re broke. It’s dispiriting. Our borders are so leaky it’s not worth pretending any more that we have them.

What do you think about this newly released information?

There’s no doubt at all that we have serious issues around illegal immigration, particularly as it is a big, powerful business with these gangs that bring people in illegally - they make a tremendous amount of money, that’s why they do it. However, I do think it’s very important to unpick carefully these ‘‘grab your attention” headlines and seek out the true facts rather take as given what these newspapers tell us with their sensationalist comments. Never take things at face value - research, research, research.

Yes and add the fact that every developed country in the world has the same problem and we begin to understand that solving this issue is frankly never ever going away.

People have migrated since the beginning of our existence on this earth.

The push factors are very strong, and we have always pulled in immigrants in order to keep our economy healthy.

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Horrifying headlines but not really a surprise, unfortunately.

One way to stop them surely would be to make clear that those who arrive here illegally (the undocumented aliens as Donald Trump calls them ) are automatically barred from seeking asylum here.

The trouble then is what to do with them when so many destroy their paperwork and claim that they are facing persecution in their country.

We need somebody like Trump. He’s only been in office for three days and look what he’s achieved already.

grannygravy13 I accord with your concerns re exploitation of these unfortunate people. This matters to me far more than a set of stark numbers.

What has he achieved apart from signing some papers, most of which do not hold any legal force, and succeeded in reinforcing division in American society.

JenniferEccles

Horrifying headlines but not really a surprise, unfortunately.

One way to stop them surely would be to make clear that those who arrive here illegally (the undocumented aliens as Donald Trump calls them ) are automatically barred from seeking asylum here.

The trouble then is what to do with them when so many destroy their paperwork and claim that they are facing persecution in their country.

We need somebody like Trump. He’s only been in office for three days and look what he’s achieved already.

Completely agree. The headlines are horrifying and SHOCKING. Wish we had Trump here.

The push factors are very strong, and we have always pulled in immigrants in order to keep our economy healthy.

Yes, we have and that is very true and of many countries too, but the majority of people go through legal channels and aren't working under the radar which opens up illegal immigrants to explotation and misery.

As I said previously, as a society we should be ashamed.

Could the people who are so concerned about immigration explain why they don't appear to be enthusiastic about identity cards?
It is such an obvious starting point.

It's depressing reading, right enough.
The problem we have is that whoever is in charge, nobody has the backbone to do anything. They are all experts on waffle but hopeless on action so we are in the state we are in.
These illegal migrants are a drain on our small island. We need to take a look at Australia. Anyone expecting to sneak in there illegally is turned around pretty smartish and sent back to where they came from, often on the next available flight and ignore the calls of Racist!
But here! Ushered into comfy hotels, given phones, food and anything else they need and all with very little prospect of being sent back.
I fear for my grandchildren's lives in the UK. I really do.

Thank goodness most of the people on this thread show a voice of reason.. I prefer Starmer's approach to that of Trump.. and I agree with Mamie re Identity cards,, I suspect that many of the undocumented immigrants are living a life of misery..

Mamie

Could the people who are so concerned about immigration explain why they don't appear to be enthusiastic about identity cards?
It is such an obvious starting point.

Are they the same people?

pascal30

Thank goodness most of the people on this thread show a voice of reason.. I prefer Starmer's approach to that of Trump.. and I agree with Mamie re Identity cards,, I suspect that many of the undocumented immigrants are living a life of misery..

It's not what they expected either is it.

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We need better legal channels - efficient ones.

Maybe at UK embassy?

LizzieDrip I agree in that I hate the phrases "alternative facts" and "alternative truths".
They are ALL untruths.

I am aware that science/medicine (for example) learn new things over time. But, (for example), we know now that the earth is round so those who say it's flat are just wrong. It's not an "alternative fact".

Allira

Mamie

Could the people who are so concerned about immigration explain why they don't appear to be enthusiastic about identity cards?
It is such an obvious starting point.

Are they the same people?

It was Tory opposition that prevented the scheme devised under Tony Blair going ahead.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polls_on_the_British_national_identity_card#:~:text=The%202006%20Act%20was%20repealed,and%20Prime%20Minister%20David%20Cameron.

Nigel Farage was also against them, this is him.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxSEGByo0Zg

Is there any evidence that those on here who have concerns about immigration are the same people who oppose identity cards. I have often see quite a favourable response to ID cards on here.

Cross post Casdon.

Galaxy

Is there any evidence that those on here who have concerns about immigration are the same people who oppose identity cards. I have often see quite a favourable response to ID cards on here.

I have concerns about immigration but would welcome identity cards

I’m not convinced that would solve the problem of people who are living here illegally NotSpaghetti. There will be amongst their number (whatever it is) people who would not have qualified for asylum and would have made their way here by other means, probably undetected such as in the backs of lorries.

I am a strong believer in identity cards. I know they would be forged, but those lawfully granted could be tied in with a police computer system in the same way that if the police feed your car’s registration into their system they know if the car is insured, taxed and not cloned. Their system will also tell them if you have a valid driving licence. However, we would have to get over the resistance to ‘stop and search’ which comes primarily from ethnic minorities, and recognise that those asked for ID in an attempt to crack down on illegal immigration would probably mainly (but not exclusively) be non-white.