Does anyone have any actual personal experience of immigration being a problem?

[OrdinarySAHM]

The country is supposed to be deeply concerned about immigration but is there really a problem, or has the media or just people in general, whipped each other up into believing there is one?

DH says that I live in a privileged bubble and that is why I haven't felt any impact on my life from immigration. This may or may not be true, that is why I am asking.

Eg. My children haven't been refused a place at the school of my choice because of immigrants taking up the places. We haven't been in any waiting lists for anything because of immigrants being ahead of us in the queue. We haven't missed out on employment that has been given to immigrants. And I don't know anyone who has any personal experience of anything like this.

Do any of you have any personal experience of immigration impacting negatively on your lives?

Obviously there are issues. When you are different, you are noted for things which would usually go unnoticed. Eg, not replying to an invitation to your child's party. I remember inviting 15 kids to my daughter's birthday party. Only got 8 replies. I did not make any assumptions but perhaps, had they been Somalian, I might have. yaddayadda..........

well, there are areas that have issues due to overcrowding. one woman i worked with did volunteer work (and also some paid work) within immigrant communities from her 'home' country (she had moved to UK about 10 years earlier). the groups of immigrants lived in very cramped conditions, very few personal possessions - we did a collection at work of old blankets, saucepans etc which she gave to people who arrived with only one suitcase etc.

sadly, there are some people who live in these conditions, and some of those people then spend evenings hanging around, drinking/smoking on the street, and that can be unpopular. some of these people do also get involved in crime/dodgy 'deals' etc.

i also taught a lad from portugal. his entire family lived in a one room 'studio flat'. some of the family did some very dodgy deals.

the problem is as much to do with poverty as immigration.

and i used to live in cambs, not too far from where some chinese illegal immigrants were drowned after being put to work collecting mussels from rocks, as the tide came in. i'd say that was a fairly negative thing about immigration, how much they can be exploited.

Not at all.

I live in a vibrant community. My neighbours on the right of me are Ukarian, Filipio, Algerian and Iraqui's. They are all my friends. One guy can now vote. He is delighted.

My neighbour on the left (!!) is an aristocrat! Seriously. She's alright too...quite a laugh actually....

Down the road, we have a great Indian community, an Irish group, some lovely Polish shops, great Turkish places to eat...and that's not even touching Persia!

Come to Sunny Kilburn,NW6 London. Gordon and Sarah Brown visited my local pub yesterday. All I can say is, get out into your community and speak, connect and continue this Good Society we are living in. Oh, and don't forget to vote either!!

Ta-ra

Grigsy

No I haven't had any personal difficulties with immigrants and just love the new polish shop which sells lovely bread.

I am aware that in some areas there are problems with schools - not getting in but because the EAL needs of the children are quite great to start with so it impacts on 'lower average' and some children with special educational needs - not all. That usually disappears within a couple of terms though. Perhaps we need to plan for these contingencies in areas that seem to be affected.

I wont print my personal experiences as they will only be picked to bits, but the way I see it is we are a small island. We dont have a great deal of room and our resources are limited. True there are people all over the world who live in fear of their lives or in poverty. The solution isnt necessarily for us to take them in. I think we take a disproportionate amount of assylum seekers and other types of refugee. How many more can we actually take? There isnt an infinite limit is there? I would like immigration to be severely limited therefore, and thats not being racist its simply being practical.

If you have left your own country to come here, I would be interested to know why you chose this country as opposed to others such as France, Germany, USA, Canada, Australia?

Grigsy, do your neighbours feel patronised at all?

actually, there are large parts of the country that aren't crowded or overpopulated, and last year approx 400,000 Brits emigrated to other countries - the highest figure ever recorded. And not all immigrants stay forever. Many go home. So the argument alyson that we don't have the room is ill informed and reactionary. It is more the case that there is a concentration in certain areas like London, Birmingham, Leeds etc.... I agree with what alicatte said, our government needs to plan better for those areas.

And why would you think grigsy's neighbours would feel patronised because she enjoys their presence? And anyhow, I'd take that over ignorance/prejudice/racism any day.....