Immigrants but legal ones?

[Tiktakmam]

I’ve been living in the UK for 16 years, have two children, and work full-time. I consider myself integrated, living according to British values, and respecting this country. I look after myself and my home, and I try to contribute positively to the community.

Yet, many of us — especially from Eastern Europe — don’t feel entirely safe with the ongoing issues around illegal migrant boats. Even though we are legal residents, I’ve noticed growing dissatisfaction from some neighbours. When I mention that I’m from Eastern Europe, I often hear comments like, “Of course you are…” — basically implying I’m not British.

This makes me feel like I’ve somehow “brought these boats” here, as if I’m just another part of the immigrant problem. Seeing flags and attitudes that suggest “immigrants go home” is disheartening.

I also feel somewhat less confident around British people, especially in areas with mostly locals and fewer immigrants. For example, when I travel to campsites or smaller towns, I sometimes feel looked at as untrustworthy. Luckily, in London I feel much less like this.

Post-Brexit, it feels like the country has changed in ways that make life less secure, not just for immigrants but for everyone. It’s heartbreaking that all migrants, legal or not, are often dropped into one pot and judged as a single group.

I keep wondering — after so many years of people from other countries contributing to making the UK a brighter, more vibrant place, why does it feel like the country has been going downhill over time?

I feel so heartbroken, because I understand that the UK will never truly be my home, as I was not born here. Yet it hurts to realize that, with every passing year, it feels more and more like I will never be fully welcome.

Why has it gone so wrong on a broader scale? How can we have a healthier, safer society for everyone, while respecting the law and supporting integration?

I hope we can have a conversation about this that goes beyond fear and politics, and focuses on community, fairness, and safety for all residents.
Im just curious, in this era of migrant boats and heightened tension around immigration, how do you perceive or feel about other immigrants, even those who are legal residents? Does this climate affect the way you interact with them or how you feel about other immigrants, especially in less multicultural towns? What does your family of friends say?

Lol at pp saying the UK should switch to a UAE model. You could try that, but you won't get many takers when so many tax payers are fleeing. The only reason the UAE works is because of low taxes and relatively high wages, built on modern slavery.

Why should PP be 'grateful' if she's literally just pointed out she and her husband got their status and jobs thanks to their own hard work. That's called meritocracy.

It's a bad business. The phrase 'illegal immigrants' being trotted out as though all immigrants are illegal is part of the problem. Desperate people risking their lives to travel here in boats are asylum seekers, and many of them end up being allowed to stay. Then there are people who moved here legally and are contributing by working and in other ways. Not everyone is xenophobic, thank God, but I agree it's increasing.

I wouldn't take the accent question as an insult, I always ask what part of the world people hail from if they have an interesting accent, its a good conversation starter - and that's not just international - Yorkshire or Lancashire?

I got asked about my accent by a cabby the other day, got us chatting, mines Cardiff but very light so he couldn't make it out.

Its a bit like taking about the weather!

The Japanese are extremely concerned about their falling birthrate.

Presumably you feel the same way about All Day Full English breakfast cafes and British or Irish bars abroad. I don't go to those places but I do sometimes go to local Polish shops, the Polish rye bread is lovely also pickles and preserved vegetables.

Is that the best response you can come up with? I was hoping for something more constructive.

These threads always descend into liberaller-than-thou types coming out with rhetoric around British people on benefits that would make your average Tory's eyes pop.

I agree they never lost the dominant status, yes.
I don't think uk should switch to same system, but something does need to happen or locals to see benefits.
I also think the citizenship should be bit more complex to get and I don't mean just making tests more difficult. Proving positove contribution to uk or something like that

And what do you think right of abode British-Irish means? Reading a little more might he.p you decipher that.

Thank you. @PandoraSocks has proved my point totally.

Which bit is racist Pandora? Is our Border Force chief reporting that contrary to popular belief, quite a few ‘asylum seekers’ are happy to pop home for Christmas, racist? Is our government racist for admitting there a problem with small boats? Are the women and children raped or murdered by ‘asylum seekers’ while residing in the hotels racist? Do elaborate please.

The white paper proposed by Starmer suggests contributions and is making citizenship harder.

OP's children were born here.

Which religions/believers are acceptable to you? Just White Anglo Saxon Protestants? What about Catholics? Jews? Obviously not any of the religions followed by brown people.

What jobs are meant for Brits? I've never seen a job advertisement saying Brits only.

OP's legality is very relevant. Given her higher level scientific qualifications I would imagine that she is probably a net contributor to the UK.

These threads really bring all the bigots out of the woodwork.

Many of the ‘illegal’ immigrants here come from countries which were previously colonised by the British. We are reaping what we sowed.

@RedMaker Japan has a huge issue with a decling and aging population and economic stagnation.

Now they have embraced automation a lot more than we have. And that is an interesting thing. There is probably an overlap here between peple who dislike immigration and dislike increased automation such as self service stores, more chatbots etc.. In an ageing country if you don't want immigration you need increased automation.

OP is talking about legal immigrants, so I am unsure why people are talking about asylum seekers.

Agree on the accent - but it can feel easily othering for someone who wasn't born in the UK. Especially now.

So what is it then? Immigration is a wonderful thing affording us a vibrancy we lacked otherwise, or revenge?

And yet you're seeking to remain as long as you can - evidently, you need us and/or aren't wanted elsewhere.

The only problem is that the government hasn't addressed people's concerns for decades. But that's now coming to a head and reaching the stage of collapse. I suspect it's going to be a problem for you too, come the next election.

This country isn't Netflix. It's not a subscription service where you become British or are entitled for you and your descendants to be here simply because you've paid tax. Paying tax is the minimum to be permitted to be here for an extended period of time.

Legal immigration is a problem when it occurs on such a scale that it makes the indigenous population a minority in areas of their own country.

But that's never held anywhere, and results in fracture. Which is what we're seeing the start of in the UK.

@RedMaker On being grateful:

I encounter this attitude A LOT with other immigrants. Of all types of nationalities and races.

It's bizarre to me. I am incredibly grateful and lucky to have been able to move to the UK. I know so many people who would love to come here and leave SA but can't, including close relatives. A lot of immigrants just don't appreciate how lucky they are.

Ok. Whatever you say.

Also what would even be the basis of a UAE economy? We’ve exploited our property boom. We don’t have natural resources to exploit as they do. You can’t just make a similar economy by saying no tax oh dear we don’t actually have anything for you all to do 😭

Its not just ancestors is it, UK is still aiding genocides in other countries and then shock, you get waves of refugees and aslym seekers mainly from the same countries your gov has bombed.

That's good. As long as it isn't just financial contribution. Thanks. I totally missed that citizenship update

Xenophobia always spikes when people feel under pressure. In this case from inflation, crumbling services and really high housing costs. Then you've got bloody Farage and social media whipping up a sense of helplessness by implying we have no control over our own borders and the whole of Africa is about to move here to live off state benefits (that last bit is sarcasm).

For those who are here, contributing to the UK; thank you. I am sorry you are experiencing this, especially as it's more about our homegrown problems than anything you’ve done. We would be up a certain creek without a paddle, without you.

In the long run, I do think we need a commonsense and compassionate reform of the UN Refugee Act. It was created in the aftermath of World War II and the drafters never envisaged a situation where people would die in deserts and drown in the Mediterranean to find a new place to live. Instead, we need to financially and practically support refuge cities close to conflict which people can easily get to, and return from, once the conflict is over. It stops the host countries from being overwhelmed (Lebanon and Turkey comes to mind), kills the people smuggling routes, stops the impression that refugees are gaming the system, and gives women, children and people with disabilities a chance at a safer life. It also stops the conflict country from bring hollowed out. Couple that with decent visa routes that allow ambitious people who want to move here, the chance to do so with dignity and fairness. The UK should be proud of the people who chose to make their home here.