AIBU to wonder why France is being blamed for allowing migrants to cross the English channel to uk?

[Rebbecia1234]

Surely, UK has as much responsibility as any other country to accept asylum seekers fleeing from desperate situations? Why should France be tasked with the responsibility of preventing asylum seekers to cross the English channel in boats to the UK?

There is an election next year it’s good for votes for the issue to look more like the UK problem

Don’t forget over a third voted for Le Pen

MaskingForIt
YANBU. If the migrants were carrying on through Britain to Ireland we’d be pumping their life jackets up and giving them sandwiches, not stopping them

Exactly.

& its not illegal for them to claim asylum in the UK either; refugees can claim asylum wherever they want, never mind what anyone else thinks theyre "supposed" to do.

I go to France quite a bit. Its changed so much in recent years. Last time I was in Paris I ate at a cafe, left a little food on my plate and was so shocked to see people swarming from over the road, fighting for leftover food. They were desperate.

Cafe owner shooed them away. Said theyre asylum seekers and he wants to help them but cant allow them to hang around as it puts other customers off.

I wouldnt want to claim asylum there either.

This country would collapse without foreigners, asylum seekers are no more a burden than Amazon et al tax dodgers taking the piss and not paying their dues.

Leave them alone.

It would be interesting to see the figures for the migrants prevented from travelling across the Channel in France ?
There are very few news stories about it over here, which of course doesn't mean the French aren't doing their best, there is a lot of coast to cover after all, on both sides of the Channel.

@OhWhyNot

There is an election next year it’s good for votes for the issue to look more like the UK problem

Don’t forget over a third voted for Le Pen

Too early to predict but Le Pen does seem to be on the wane as she shifts to a more centralist POV…..quite possible the hard right vote will get split by Zemmour.

foreignpolicy.com/2021/11/10/france-eric-zemmour-president-election/

It’s quite funny reading further upthread all the grumbling about France becoming supposedly more hostile…..another POV is the UK has become the more belligerent party, typified by Lord Frost’s various antics and statements.

[quote luckylavender]@daimbarsatemydogsbone - where do you get this rubbish from? The total population of Southall is c. 70,000[/quote]
It came from the Times of India

m.timesofindia.com/world/uk/Indian-faujis-faking-their-way-into-UK/articleshow/3247571.cms

I did caveat it because no-one can know the actual figures. Where is your 70k from?

It’s quite funny reading further upthread all the grumbling about France becoming supposedly more hostile…..another POV is the UK has become the more belligerent party, typified by Lord Frost’s various antics and statements.

Neither country has anything to gain from our leaders acting like kids in a playground.

user the key point of the European Union was supposed to a friendly trading bloc, it has since morphed into a political superstate. It’s higher purpose hijacked long ago, but the point of the thread is about France’s disgraceful decision to continue to allow people smuggling in broad daylight, operating in plain sight knowing how many poor souls will lose their lives in one of the busiest choppiest shipping lanes in the world simply to score political points. It’s an outrage, and if you are not horrified by it then perhaps ask yourself why not? These are real people losing their lives every day.

@Fairylights25

user the key point of the European Union was supposed to a friendly trading bloc, it has since morphed into a political superstate. It’s higher purpose hijacked long ago, but the point of the thread is about France’s disgraceful decision to continue to allow people smuggling in broad daylight, operating in plain sight knowing how many poor souls will lose their lives in one of the busiest choppiest shipping lanes in the world simply to score political points. It’s an outrage, and if you are not horrified by it then perhaps ask yourself why not? These are real people losing their lives every day.

Despite the frequent claims that the French are doing nothing that really isn’t the case…but when they do it can all very ugly and one issue appears to be that the minute the French authorities start taking robust action to dissuade the migrants from congregating in the embarkment areas there is kick back from charities/NGOs…..

www.rfi.fr/en/france/20211007-rights-group-reports-that-french-police-cause-misery-for-migrants-in-calais

www.infomigrants.net/en/post/33065/france-unpredictable-raids-target-migrants-in-calais

I’ll add this link as well…

www.infomigrants.net/en/post/35518/allegations-of-rubber-bullets-fired-at-migrants-on-french-beach

But of course the French are sitting back and doing nothing…

We have no migration camps here. Do France not house their migrants in Le Premier Inns?

@mumda

We have no migration camps here. Do France not house their migrants in Le Premier Inns?

We have a centre with “proper” buildings, not far from us in southern France that provides accommodation and assistance for migrants who want to seek asylum in France.

Those intent on staying off the French authorities radar and instead are heading for the UK generally make their own (often grim) arrangements, though they do sometimes get help from charities.

@Rebbecia1234 I'd imagine the U.K. doesn't police it's own waters in this way because we are an island. Unlike France who can stop them and turn them back from crossing what can we do mid-water? Shoot them? Bring them in anyway - thus defeating the point of stopping them?

We don't want to hurt people. So we don't want them to try the crossing. Either way they're only coming because of colonialist attitudes that taught them the streets are paved with bloody gold. I'm sure they'd rather have chosen Germany if they do make it.

[quote Rebbecia1234]@Wackaday

I think that the UK has a responsibility to do their fair share in helping asylum seekers who have come from desperate situations. Obviously no one wants people to risk their lives crossing seas in difficult conditions. I am quite sure that France could do more to prevent it, but it is not in their interests to do so and their commitment to do this will never be there.[/quote]
The UK does do its fair share.

@daimbarsatemydogsbone - 2011 census

Fair enough the 800k is obviously wrong. I assume it must be a National estimate incorrectly attributed in the Times of India and other sources.

Why does it have to be rubber bullets or standing around doing nothing? What we need, what we have always needed is a Europe wide consensus to remove migrants back to their home countries that works quickly, efficiently and with dignity. If we were returning 1000s a week then it would quickly become a deterrent to those attempting the journey. We could then set up an orderly system for application.

Ultimately the argument that the west should be offering refuge to all and sundry now needs to be seriously explored, because anyone can argue that their needs are greater because of x,y & z but really we need to become much tougher full stop. People will also want a better life/more money

@Rebbecia1234

Surely, UK has as much responsibility as any other country to accept asylum seekers fleeing from desperate situations? Why should France be tasked with the responsibility of preventing asylum seekers to cross the English channel in boats to the UK?

Yes we should be accepting asylum seekers fleeing from desperate situations. But international law/convention is that the asylum seekers should seek asylum in the FIRST SAFE country they get to. France is safe. Why are they not claiming asylum in France? Or for those who arrive overland in France, in any of the other number of countries they pass through first? (yes I know there are all sorts of reasons why people want to get to the UK because of family links and language, but the law doesn't really take account of that)

Also, the French aren't doing much about stopping them leaving their shores. Not tracking down the despicable people traffickers who charge $$$ for a place on an unsuitable boat.

It is human nature to seek a better life.

They are economic migrants. They have travelled through numerous safe countries to get to the promised land of the UK. 90% of them are able bodied young men, very few elderly, women or children. France could stop them but it is easier to pass the buck to the UK as why would the French want to be responsible for a load of angry young men who are going to cost them millions over the years whilst potentially being a dangerous threat to the existing population. On top of that the UK is paying France millions to do nothing. It's win-win for France.

Not for much longer lonely

@daimbarsatemydogsbone - That link doesn't say there are 800,000 in Southall.
It says "With at least 800,000 illegal Indian immigrants here and just "one square mile" of 'Little Punjab' aka Southall in west London chock full of houses packed with people who should rightfully be deported to India" 'Here' is referring to the UK, it doesn't say how many of the 800,000 are in Southall, just that one square mile is 'packed'

Does the UK actually deport anyone? It seems that even if you commit a crime you can basically just stay here unhindered. Why bother being law abiding or doing things the legal way to become a British citizen when even if your claim is rejected you still get housing and financial support (more in total than most pensioners get) per week.

@notimagain

I’ll add this link as well…

www.infomigrants.net/en/post/35518/allegations-of-rubber-bullets-fired-at-migrants-on-french-beach

But of course the French are sitting back and doing nothing…

This!!

They don’t do enough, they get blamed by UK. They try a bit harder, they get slammed with human rights criticisms.

They’re doing the best they can with limited resources. I don’t think france has the space/money to house everyone. Even if they did, many asylum seekers are desperate to get to the UK and will reject assistance from the French.

There’s no magic solution 😕

They do deport, but it takes ages with a long spiral process. We should really become much more efficiently . A two week window - fixed process - change the law so it’s easier to do. Anyone refusing ID is automatically deported immediately due to security concerns. Turn around is super fast and non contentious. The starting point is deportation not resettlement. Anyone with a criminal record automatically deported. Anyone caught smuggling human beings gets life in prison no ifs or buts.
Until we get tough on this we will continue to see the trade of people and exploitation drag on for decades.
Put me in charge I’d have this done in 12 months or less.

Appeal