The issue is, probably more people immigrate illegally or under refugee rules than those who want to live, work, and contribute here legitimately.
Can we please stop mixing up refugees and immigrants???
People migrate for all sorts of reason, for work, for love, for adventure, and the reasons change...you might migrate for work and think you’ll stay 6months and find the love of your life.
I migrated for work (I was actually poached by U.K. recruiter, so I didn’t skip any queue, just so you know) with already a toddler in tow, and settled and I don’t regret a thing, but ill admit it was a decision based on the hope we’d have a better life here. More opportunities for me to be respected in my work, trilingual upbringing in open minded setting for my kids. From that point of view, yes I profited from immigrating. I also contribute 40% of my income to the state,eh...
BUT
The attitude in the press and in people’s language about refugees though is DESPICABLE. It seems to me half of the British conservatives have no idea what a refugeee is!
Refugee status is governed by international conventions and there are rules. I might agree with you that the rules to establish applicability, or the speed at which requests are processed can be improved and bla bla bla. But we are, you all are, a freaking rich and democratic country, you respect and promote and defend the right of people to be free of oppression for political, religious, sexual or enthical reasons. This is a UNIVERSAL right, it doesn’t apply to brits or westerners only. As such, if someone is oppressed in their country for reasons that make no sense to our principles, and if they come to us for help, we have a moral duty to do it! Stop referring to refugees as if it was a bunch of scammers trying to bypass immigration rules! The only few refugees I know in person are wonderful, well educated people, that work, give back to the community, and are an enrichment to this country.
No Brexit on the planet will erase your responsibility to defend values of acceptance of universal rights, and therefore your obligation to accept refugees and asylum seekers, within the framework of international law.
You’ll not have to deal with the EU in respect to rules and quotas, but the UN and more generally the international community will judge us, even if your conscience doesn’t.
Vent over.