Sorry for the long post - it grew.
I feel like part of the problem we are experiencing in this (and similar) threads is one of terminology and assumptions.
Many pro free migration/anti asylum seeker detention people seem to have placed certain cast iron meanings on the term ‘asylum seeker’ or ‘illegal immigrant’ and base all their thinking on these.
From observation in these threads, the cast iron assumptions seem to be as follows - correct me if I’m wrong:
All asylum seekers have risked their lives on a terrible and dangerous journey from their home country.
All asylum seekers are fully educated on UK law (including that on rape) and totally intend to abide by it
All asylum seekers are from ‘war torn’ countries and definitely can’t return ever.
By virtue of being an ’asylum seeker’, none of these men intend to commit rape or murder in the UK.
By virtue of being an ‘asylum seeker’ none of these men are criminal fugitives or terrorists seeking a place to escape justice.
All asylum seekers are brown, therefore anyone objecting to their presence is racist.
All asylum seekers are so happy to be taken in, they will be eternally grateful to us and definitely never do anything to harm us like impose their harmful religious practices on us.
All asylum seekers are definitely genuine and would never be an economic migrant, just here because social media tells him the accommodation is good, the benefits generous and white women are free for the taking.
I feel like the problem here is that the rest of us understand that not all the above assumptions are true about asylum seekers.
Some are economic migrants. Some are rapists, murderers and terrorists (they have personally demonstrated that to us), quite a high proportion are white. There are tens of thousands of voluntary returns of people in the UK illegally, many of which are for social reasons, family weddings etc.
Men in the group ‘asylum seekers’ have proven to us that some are indeed rapists, murderers and terrorists. They are not so grateful that they will behave with respect and decorum, especially to women. On the contrary, they harass and film and sexually assault. Some Pakistani Muslims (one of the largest groups) have openly stated their hostility to our lifestyles and values and aim to widely impose Islam. They already have significant influence despite being only 6% of the population.
People are objecting to uncontrolled numbers of these men (and where are the women? Left to fend for themselves in some ‘war torn’ country?) entering our country, being allowed to roam freely while no one knows if they are a Nobel Laureate or a convicted criminal fugitive hiding from justice (unless they attack yet another unsuspecting British person or produce a work of scientific genius).
We are not racist, we are not xenophobic, we are stupid and being fed a line by ‘right wing’ politics - we just want control of our borders, not to spend billions and billions that we can ill afford on hotels and taxis to GP appointments (which British person gets a 200 mile taxi to a medical appt paid for by the state?), private dentistry etc.
People seem to like making themselves feel virtuous by being like Lady Bountiful and extending our national generosity to all they perceive to be below them and criticising all who object. I often wonder if this ‘saviour complex’ shows a deep insecurity or just a strong dislike for fellow Brits. Either way it’s hurting our society.