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AIBU?

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Original poster

What's your thoughts on asylum seekers?

742 replies

Lynds778 · 28/01/2025 09:09

I'm all for offering asylum to those genuinely in need but I've seen a lot of negative media recently around 'fake' asylum seekers; people pretending to be from war-torn countries etc to gain entry to the country. Also videos of men giving advice for future asylum seekers on where to say you're from so that you can get in.

Also seen a lot of uproar from local communities about asylum seekers behaving anti-socially, most recently hanging around outside a primary school in Deanshanger and it's got me worried.
I'm also wondering why the large majority of asylum seekers are men and there are less women and children?

So, what's your opinion?

Also, this isn't a racist post. I would have the exact same concerns if these were white asylum seekers from Germany for example. The worry is the system is being abused by some and that we are a bit too lax when it comes to documentation and monitoring of asylum seekers.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14058597/Fake-asylum-seekers-conning-way-Britain-telling-Home-Office-war-torn-Eritrea-bragging-thousands-followers-TikTok.html

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14185169/amp/Four-asylum-seekers-costing-taxpayer-estimated-160-000-year-living-575-000-luxury-home-accused-faking-Afghan-nationalities-UK.html

OP posts:
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12
Lovelybitofsquirrel3 · 28/01/2025 11:06

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 28/01/2025 10:58

I think, in general, immigration is inevitable because of modern transport.
Any and all immigration restrictions are a desperate rear guard action against that.

We have an obligation under international law to take in refugees and because of that we have to have an asylum system to work out which ones are genuine.
The asylum system as a whole is much harsher than most people realise.

But, if immigration by other means is restricted then people will use the processes open to them. And yes, that includes people who are economic migrants rather than refugees (although the distinction is blurrier than you might think).

In my opinion there's a few things that can be done better:

  1. Much faster initial decisions on asylum claims (don't leave people hanging around in limbo for ever)
  2. Asylum seekers should be housed in ordinary council housing. Not prison ships, not old office blocks, not shitty private accommodation outsourced to some facilities management company. Large groups of socially excluded young men hanging about in one place is not great- as PP have pointed out.
  3. Asylum seekers should be housed in areas with enough housing and services for them. Dispersal to Glasgow actually worked really well when 50% of its housing stock was social housing. Then became more of a problem when the largest housing association started demolishing its stock. Now there are predictable tensions over resources.
  4. Point 3 depends on improving housing and public services across the board. For native population and newcomers. That needs to happen anyway; immigration or not.
  5. Put some effort into facilitating integration. People integrate better when they have enough money, something productive to do and when they live among the native population, not in ghettos. And on top of that, specific services like ESOL.
  6. Have a think about things which are likely to cause tensions and plan not to do them. I know of a tower block where all the tenants were decanted (whether that's what they wanted or not), told that the block would be demolished. Later on the block was refitted and let out as asylum seeker accommodation. It was done thoughtlessly to deal with an intimidate crisis. But what does that look like to the people who were moved out?! If you were trying to create racial tensions on purpose you couldn't have done better.
  7. More effort and resources into people smuggling gangs. Noone should be drowning to death in the English channel.
  1. disabled children already in the country should be afforded a school place
  2. people already in the country waiting for their disability claim shouldn’t be waiting ages and be denied when it is over turned by tribunal in the end
  3. people already in the country who have been on waiting lists for housing should get affordable council housing
  4. People already in the country should have access to the amenities and be able to get regular GP appointments and healthcare
  5. People already in the country should get to live in safe places without antisocial behaviour, with enough money to live on that’s not just existing
I could go on
TY78910 · 28/01/2025 11:08

There is a new (I think channel 4) programme coming soon that takes the "get these asylum seekers out" people and takes them to some of the countries to see how it is and what they are fleeing from. Very interested to watch that.

tonyhawks23 · 28/01/2025 11:09

TY78910 · 28/01/2025 11:08

There is a new (I think channel 4) programme coming soon that takes the "get these asylum seekers out" people and takes them to some of the countries to see how it is and what they are fleeing from. Very interested to watch that.

oh that does sound good.

tonyhawks23 · 28/01/2025 11:10

Lovelybitofsquirrel3 · 28/01/2025 11:06

  1. disabled children already in the country should be afforded a school place
  2. people already in the country waiting for their disability claim shouldn’t be waiting ages and be denied when it is over turned by tribunal in the end
  3. people already in the country who have been on waiting lists for housing should get affordable council housing
  4. People already in the country should have access to the amenities and be able to get regular GP appointments and healthcare
  5. People already in the country should get to live in safe places without antisocial behaviour, with enough money to live on that’s not just existing
I could go on
Show quote history

So, could we do it all if we taxed the rich. Reminding you of the cookies here.

PoisedRedPombear · 28/01/2025 11:11

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Lovelybitofsquirrel3 · 28/01/2025 11:12

PandoraSox · 28/01/2025 10:59

Oh. I see. I think "millions" of refugees "arriving regularly" is exaggerating it just a tiny bit.

"Between 2004 and 2020, there were between 22,000 and 46,000 people claiming asylum in the UK each year. However, since the second half of 2021, there has been a noticeable increase, reaching a peak of almost 103,000 in the year ending March 2023"

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year-ending-september-2024/how-many-people-claim-asylum-in-the-uk

Edited
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I’ve realised I’ve gotten confused between immigration and asylum seekers.

Julen7 · 28/01/2025 11:13

Lasttraintolondon · 28/01/2025 10:56

I think I feel sorry for them.

I also think I pay tons in tax and all the public services are falling apart, the country is getting in more debt, and we shouldn't take any more in.

Anyone who wants to pay for them should have a voluntary opt-in higher tax rate. It's all very easy when you're spending other people's money.

This. Come on all you asylum seeking defenders, how about it?

tonyhawks23 · 28/01/2025 11:16

Julen7 · 28/01/2025 11:13

This. Come on all you asylum seeking defenders, how about it?

Show quote history

I mean that ones obvious! if we have a voluntary tax for that why not one for not paying for NHS if we use private healthcare; one for not paying for state schools if we dont have kids/go private, one for making sure we dont pay for healthcare smokers, dangerous sports, car drivers, one for not subsidising the dairy industry if we are vegan, one for not paying for war if we are pacifist etc etc. We are a society. We help us all.

Hoppinggreen · 28/01/2025 11:17

tonyhawks23 · 28/01/2025 11:16

I mean that ones obvious! if we have a voluntary tax for that why not one for not paying for NHS if we use private healthcare; one for not paying for state schools if we dont have kids/go private, one for making sure we dont pay for healthcare smokers, dangerous sports, car drivers, one for not subsidising the dairy industry if we are vegan, one for not paying for war if we are pacifist etc etc. We are a society. We help us all.

Show quote history

I agree, it would be great if I could pick and choose which tax to pay and only pay for things I agree with and/or use personally

OneAmberFinch · 28/01/2025 11:18

Lovelybitofsquirrel3 · 28/01/2025 11:12

I’ve realised I’ve gotten confused between immigration and asylum seekers.

Show quote history

A lot of people do, don't worry about it. I think a lot of people's concern about asylum seeking is actually a more general concern that our overall immigration system is consuming more resources and contributing to more cultural decline (e.g. loss of high trust society) than advertised.

Jellycatspyjamas · 28/01/2025 11:19

@Lovelybitofsquirrel3 still not in the millions - where are you getting your figures from?

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 28/01/2025 11:19
  1. disabled children already in the country should be afforded a school place
  2. people already in the country waiting for their disability claim shouldn’t be waiting ages and be denied when it is over turned by tribunal in the end
  3. people already in the country who have been on waiting lists for housing should get affordable council housing
  4. People already in the country should have access to the amenities and be able to get regular GP appointments and healthcare
  5. People already in the country should get to live in safe places without antisocial behaviour, with enough money to live on that’s not just existing
I could go on

Completely agree.

Tryingtoberreasonable · 28/01/2025 11:19

Also there is actually a programme on this week where people from the UK go to said countries and experience what is actually going on. I have no idea whether this will be bias but I thought it would be an interesting watch. Will be on channel 4 (I am not mega knowledgeable on the political bias of different TV channels so apologies if this is something that could potentially be swayed)

www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/go-back-came-from-date-newsupdate/

Personally I am all for people seeking asylum, I genuinely do not think mothers and families would themselves and their children onto boats/lorries with no food or essentials and face possible fatality… just to take advantage of benefits elsewhere. You do it because you feel there is no other way.

Unfortunately there will be people that do understand the system and do try to take advantage of this however it is for the UK government and teams that deal with this to try and identify this. Similarly there are UK citizens that also take advantage of the system just because they can and they get away with it.

rewilded · 28/01/2025 11:20

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

tonyhawks23 · 28/01/2025 11:20

Hoppinggreen · 28/01/2025 11:17

I agree, it would be great if I could pick and choose which tax to pay and only pay for things I agree with and/or use personally

Show quote history

So what we do instead, to make it less chaos, is vote in a government with an idea of what they plan to spend on what. Its democracy.

Meecrowahvey · 28/01/2025 11:22

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What does this have to do with asylum seekers?

tonyhawks23 · 28/01/2025 11:23

Meecrowahvey · 28/01/2025 11:22

What does this have to do with asylum seekers?

Show quote history

yes really not understanding this? vapings asylum seekers faults? cant see an issue with nail bars? your going to have to explain.

apologies quoting PP really...

mollyfolk · 28/01/2025 11:25

UmbrellaEllaEllaElla · 28/01/2025 09:17

I just don't understand why other wealthy countries like Dubai, Saudi Arabia etc dont take more in.

You’re so right. Wealthy countries need to do more. It’s so unfair that the vast majority of refugees live in countries that are poor like Chad or the Lebanon.

heyhopotato · 28/01/2025 11:25

You can't say "I'm not racist" and then link to Daily Mail articles as your sources, it's like saying "I'm vegan" and eating a daily bacon buttie.

SallyWD · 28/01/2025 11:26

This reply has been deleted

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

But these small businesses are thriving because the more traditional high street shops can't survive anymore. What would you prefer? Boarded up shops? I don't use vapes or get my nails done but I don't mind the existence of these shops. Millions of people use them. DH and DS go to the Turkish barber and love it, so I have no complaints.

Tryingtoberreasonable · 28/01/2025 11:28

I’m finding this hard to follow as there are two different discussions here, immigration and asylum seekers and they are two different things.

I will add on the immigration side of things
My father was an immigrant from Africa, he came over when he was 17 on a scholarship. He went to college, went to university, got a degree and became a pharmacist. My dad is one of the most kind hearted men on this planet, he would work an 8 hour day and when pharmacy drivers were off he took it upon himself to go and deliver prescriptions to the door of people who were in need of medication but unable to collect themselves (e.g. the elderly, people with disabilities) and he did that out of the goodness of his own heart because he cares for people. He didn’t get paid any extra for this and would end up getting home at past 9pm, when he also had a wife and 2 children. He would regularly get abuse over the telephone from patients because of his accent. He is the most helpful, caring man I’ve ever met. If I can be half of the person my father is, I’ll die a happy person.

There is always just a massive bias towards immigrants coming to the UK to scrounge of the benefits but I know so many that contribute so so much to the community and work bloody hard.

TY78910 · 28/01/2025 11:30

tonyhawks23 · 28/01/2025 11:16

I mean that ones obvious! if we have a voluntary tax for that why not one for not paying for NHS if we use private healthcare; one for not paying for state schools if we dont have kids/go private, one for making sure we dont pay for healthcare smokers, dangerous sports, car drivers, one for not subsidising the dairy industry if we are vegan, one for not paying for war if we are pacifist etc etc. We are a society. We help us all.

Show quote history

Ooh yes!

And how about the white British tradies (I’ve encountered a fair few boiler engineers, plumbers, painter decorators) over the years that asked for payment “cash in hand so the tax man doesn’t get me hahahahaha” while I look at my payslip and see almost 3k in tax and NI contributions chopped from my wage (1st generation immigrant here btw, not that it should matter but thought I’d share for those who hate us)

poetryandwine · 28/01/2025 11:32

Hoppinggreen · 28/01/2025 11:17

I agree, it would be great if I could pick and choose which tax to pay and only pay for things I agree with and/or use personally

Show quote history

This.

Supporting the charities of one’s choice directly is a much better way to help the causes one believes in than voluntarily paying more taxes. Those taxes could go towards anything and in the present climate are not very likely to help people seeking asylum.

SallyWD · 28/01/2025 11:32

Tryingtoberreasonable · 28/01/2025 11:28

I’m finding this hard to follow as there are two different discussions here, immigration and asylum seekers and they are two different things.

I will add on the immigration side of things
My father was an immigrant from Africa, he came over when he was 17 on a scholarship. He went to college, went to university, got a degree and became a pharmacist. My dad is one of the most kind hearted men on this planet, he would work an 8 hour day and when pharmacy drivers were off he took it upon himself to go and deliver prescriptions to the door of people who were in need of medication but unable to collect themselves (e.g. the elderly, people with disabilities) and he did that out of the goodness of his own heart because he cares for people. He didn’t get paid any extra for this and would end up getting home at past 9pm, when he also had a wife and 2 children. He would regularly get abuse over the telephone from patients because of his accent. He is the most helpful, caring man I’ve ever met. If I can be half of the person my father is, I’ll die a happy person.

There is always just a massive bias towards immigrants coming to the UK to scrounge of the benefits but I know so many that contribute so so much to the community and work bloody hard.

Your father sounds wonderful and a real asset to the country. I'm so sorry he suffered abuse.
This is exactly it, it's very rare to hear people talk of the benefits of immigration or give examples of the good done by immigrants.

Hoppinggreen · 28/01/2025 11:34

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This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

And you know for a fact that these people are Asylum Seekers?