To say that most people in the UK want illegal immigration to stop

[Sleepysleepycoffeecoffee]

I recently commented on a Facebook post to say the majority of British people are against illegal immigration. I was asked by several other users what survey I based that opinion on. I responded with the question ‘do you think most people want illegal immigration to continue then? Because if not, then surely they want it to stop?’ I didn’t receive any responses to that.
Without getting into any political arguments or name calling and giving no ifs, buts or reasons for your view, please vote as follows.

YABU - I want illegal immigration to continue.
YANBU - I don’t want illegal immigration to continue.

I don't think it's as easy as that. I would like us to take our fair share of refugees and have some safe, legal routes to asylum in place again.

How are you defining illegal immigration? Anywhere from 45 - 70% of people who arrive irregularly are granted asylum.

Exactly this.

Many people's definition of illegal immigration is anyone with a brown face daring to step foot in the UK. Because they're morons.

Unless you define it, no one knows if this is what you mean op.

Do you mean people legally coming to the UK on working or students visas and then illegally over-staying or not living within the terms of their visa? I think people wrongly mean people claiming asylum and of course that’s not illegal. I wish asylum wasn’t needed but no, I don’t wish the UK to stop taking asylum seekers.

Most rational people do. But these boards are not representative of rational voting public. You’ll mostly get the self proclaimed kind ones on here making obtuse arguments about why they don’t. But then they should be ignored because they struggle to read the room and learned nothing from the Brexit experience.

What is illegal immigration?

As said there is currently no legal route for asylum seekers to come to the UK and apply for refuge. That needs to change.

Good to see I am not wrong so far.

I don't think you, or most people who talk about illegal immigration, have the faintest idea what constitutes 'illegal immigration'.

People claiming asylum when they have passed through at least one other safe country to get here (in some cases having asylum claims rejected in other countries - got to question why). People overstaying visas and playing the visa system, eg coming on a student visa with no intention of studying and then disappearing underground.

@Sleepysleepycoffeecoffee do you have to question why people might travel through more than one country, or are you just rage baiting?

There is nothing legally to stop someone passing through countries to then apply for asylum in the UK. Perhaps they have friends and family in the uk or speak English.

Oh well, at least disabled people are getting a bit of a scapegoat break.🙄

Well, I am fine with the first (I think there are lots of valid reasons why you might want to settle in a particular country) and not with the second, so I was right to think that I can't vote either way on your poll.

Yes, it is worrying me how much social engineering is being attempted on here at the moment.

Illegal immigration? Yes, there should be far less of this.
People seeking asylum? No issue at all, we should be taking our share.

What’s your definition of illegal migration Op?

I agree that safer routes need to be implemented, asylum claims need to be processed quicker and I also think it’s preferable if migrants do have ID, but in general I don’t have an issue with human beings seeking a better life.

I think some people think claiming asylum is illegal and don’t actually understand what would be classed as an illegal immigrant, they just see a brown person and don’t want them here.

Some people love to blame people seeking asylum for the problems we have in the UK before looking at the actual facts, or whats really causing it and use it as an excuse to spout their racist opinions.

Under international law, anyone has the right to apply for asylum in any country that has signed the 1951 Convention and to remain there until the authorities have assessed their claim. You only become an illegal if you stay in the country if your claim is rejected.

Of course- is there anything illegal in this country most people don't want to stop? A government should always be working to stop illegal migration, illegal drug dealing, illegal tax evasion... the works.

I do however believe in asylum and providing a welcoming environment for those migrating for work or to settle in legal ways.

I couldn't ever vote Reform if that's your true question. I feel like there is a moral and ethical line of what decent people would do to stop something illegal and Reform just isn't sitting in a good place relative to the line.

I want illegal shoplifting to stop but if we are shooting the thieves to achieve it we've lost our sense of proportion and morality in the process.

I've no idea what most people think about immigration, illegal or otherwise. I know what they're reading in the MSM though so I'm guessing they are heavily influenced by that.
And so, I don't think people really get the facts - they just get the politicised right wing rhetoric that the MSM wants to give us.
I also think, that when people talk about immigration problems they don't really distinguish illegal from legal anyway. With few, if any, legal routes into the country, how else would genuine asylum seekers get in.
There are a lot of misconceptions around asylum seekers, including that they should stay in the first country that they enter.
Those who are deemed to be geniune asylum seekers are not illegals.
However, there are illegal immigrants in this country and they should be dealt with. I'm just not sure that people focus on the right people when they get all agitated about it.

I want illegal immigration to stop.

However, claiming asylum isn't illegal.

I would like to see the introduction of safe and legal routes so that desperate people don't have to make perilous journeys in small boats.

I think we’ve got to make a distinction between asylum seekers and economic migrants but so many seem to lump them all together.

As a nation which (directly or indirectly) contributes to overseas wars, I think we should accept a defined number of asylum seekers per year - those who can prove they’re genuinely fleeing from war or persecution. Those who are arriving illegally from poor countries as economic migrants, seeking better opportunities should not be allowed to stay. I’d actually be in favour of lowering the threshold for people to arrive legally - create a set number of places each year which allows people to come to jobs (lower income ones) and contribute to the economy and the country.

I think for most people, it’s the eye watering cost of housing illegal economic migrants which is the real problem, not to mention that a person’s status means they will get higher priority on local housing lists too.

For me, I love a country that is ethnically diverse and where people arrive and are genuine contributors to the system. I don’t like it when people arrive to take from the system and are then also allowed to bring their families. There’s not a lot of publicly available information but of those who arrive illegally and are allowed to stay, only around 50% will ever get a job. Thats just not sustainable.

My concern is not just the cost to the uk taxpayer and the negative impact on an already constrained housing infrastructure, but also the potentially serious security risks. With no background searches, fingerprinting or checks of whereabouts, the UK is surely a magnet for ne’er-do-wells. Who are they? No one knows. Where are they? No one knows.

Actually, I also feel for young people undercut by cheap labour. Living in a paid for hotel, receiving pocket money and then being able to earn tax-free is a kick in the face to UK young people. The equivalent YP is facing a dried up jobs market, no hope of moving out of their parents’ home, high taxes and student loan payments. You could argue the migrant doesn’t exactly have the best life, but the hardship is worth it if they save up a few thou’ that buys a house for his family back home.

I would argue it’s not the migrants per se, but the unfairness of the situation, the sense of injustice. To do the right thing yet have no hope and feel so burdened, being forced to hand over taxes and resources to the stranger, via the very government you voted for and trusted.

It’s also the deep horror of realising the establishment is willing this situation to worsen, in the name of ‘kindness’. If the establishment have their way, there are millions upon millions ready to knock on Britain’s door, eager to make their dreams of a better life come true. Who could deny the destitute stranger his chances? In reality, this sentiment, spouted by the elite and hard-wired into policy decisions, forces the most vulnerable in society to swallow the costs.

Migrants awaiting for their claim to be assessed are not allowed to work so aren’t taking jobs from anyone.

I personally want the hate to stop. It's disgusting how hateful this country has become towards anyone who is "other" be that brown or disabled.