Refugees / Asylum seekers crossing the channel

Refugees / Asylum seekers crossing the channel

Author
Discussion

monthefish

Original Poster:

20,439 posts

230 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Something I’ve long wondered (but, on some levels, have been slightly afraid to ask) is why do Refugees/ Asylum seekers cross the channel to reach the UK?

(can we have sensible answers avoiding any racists/xenophobic comments please)

As we’ve seen from the tragic news stories recently, crossing the channel is a very dangerous thing to do, so the risk/reward ratio of getting to the UK vs staying in mainland Europe (France/Spain/Germany etc) is obviously viewed as high enough to warrant the risk.

Similarly, for the despicable people traffickers, presumably the further the destination/higher number of borders, the trickier the process, so from a (horrible) business point of view, it is not easier to offer passage to mainland Europe?


p.s. I understand why many Refugees/ Asylum seekers LEAVE their countries – this question is about the choice of end destination and the reasons why.

Sophisticated Sarah

15,077 posts

168 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
U.K. is a tolerant and stable country. Going through France, Germany, Italy etc they’d have encountered racism at the levels the U.K. suffered in the 80s.

mx5nut

5,404 posts

81 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Sophisticated Sarah said:
U.K. is a tolerant and stable country..
Despite the impression Farage and his mob try to project, we should be proud that we are.

dai1983

2,902 posts

148 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Reasons are out there on various sites and I've posted the following on the various threads:

-English language
-relatives already here
-tolerant and stable society

Countdown

39,690 posts

195 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
dai1983 said:
Reasons are out there on various sites and I've posted the following on the various threads:

-English language
-relatives already here
-tolerant and stable society
So if we want to cut down of refugees we all need to become French

biggrin

OddCat

2,515 posts

170 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
dai1983 said:
Reasons are out there on various sites and I've posted the following on the various threads:

-English language
-relatives already here
-tolerant and stable society
So France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland etc are not.

Blimey, no wonder we wanted to leave the EU. Bloody good job too by the sounds of it.

coolg

650 posts

45 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
OddCat said:
dai1983 said:
Reasons are out there on various sites and I've posted the following on the various threads:

-English language
-relatives already here
-tolerant and stable society
So France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland etc are not.

Blimey, no wonder we wanted to leave the EU. Bloody good job too by the sounds of it.
I don't believe Calais is full of English Speakers with relatives in the UK.

There is the perception that the UK is the land of milk and honey, the reality is no longer the case, but it is far more affluent than their home country and it takes a long time to change that impression,.


PositronicRay

26,957 posts

182 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Easier to work and live, under the radar.

williamp

19,213 posts

272 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Certainly bad for the U: They've only just arrived and are willing to risk their lives just to escape

ReallyReallyGood

1,620 posts

129 months

Friday 21st August 2020
quotequote all
Maybe we should put tvs in Calais playing The Office repeats to show the grim reality of life in the UK. Or a webcam of Croydon high street.

rodericb

6,657 posts

125 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
1. Hear that <insert western country here> is rich
2. Go to <insert western country here>
3. ????????????
4. Profit

Brother D

3,698 posts

175 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
Countdown said:
dai1983 said:
Reasons are out there on various sites and I've posted the following on the various threads:

-English language
-relatives already here
-tolerant and stable society
So if we want to cut down of refugees we all need to become French

biggrin
How very dare you... Although I appreciate our sworn enemie's efficiency at dodging soap when in a rush in the morning.

Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
coolg said:
I don't believe Calais is full of English Speakers with relatives in the UK.

There is the perception that the UK is the land of milk and honey, the reality is no longer the case, but it is far more affluent than their home country and it takes a long time to change that impression,.
I don't believe many of them speak English too fluently either, and some seem to come from places that have French as a 1st language but still don't want to stop in France!

I think they see our minimum wage and think the UK looks like Utopia - until they see what things like rent cost, but by then it's too late.

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
Some will have no choice, they have been sold to a smuggler in the U.K. whilst still in Syria etc and they will be expected to reach the U.K, not stop in France, Belgium, Germany. There are brutal consequences if they don’t make it. It’s a desperate situation but some have no choice but to risk the crossing.

All his talk of “they want our benefits” is flawed, the truth is there are people crossing the Channel who aren’t smuggled and just want to reach the U.K., find their contact and work and live under the radar as previously mentioned. A few restaurants in Bristol have been closed down for employing illegal immigrants. They have no intention of claiming benefits, taking up GP appointments and all the other standard far right whinges because that alerts the authorities. It’s quite simple, get caught and they claim asylum; don’t get caught and they try to live and work unknown to the authorities.

Those who are genuinely seeking asylum in the U.K. know what the chances of it being approved are before they leave, all the information is available to them through networks, online etc and through UN camps in Syria and en route. Those who do set out for the U.K. seeking asylum in are not doing it on a wing and a prayer. Eg getting a child a place at a U.K. school is impossible without the Local Authority knowing your refugee status so anyone travelling with children is far more likely to be seeking asylum.

As mentioned by others, the U.K. has a reputation for tolerance and acceptance, I’m proud of that. I believe the vast majority of people are good, if they see their child being educated in the U.K., they will seek employment and become a valued citizen.

hyphen

26,262 posts

89 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
coolg said:
There is the perception that the UK is the land of milk and honey, the reality is no longer the case,
In France they are roughing it, then as soon as they arrive here they are put into a hotel. It can then take months to make a decision as to whether they are really in need or not.

If you are in Syria/Calais/wherever, and you are seeing pictures on Facebook of someone you know in an all costs paid Hotel, you would probably see a land of milk and honey and contemplate following suit.

hyphen

26,262 posts

89 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
Sophisticated Sarah said:
U.K. is a tolerant and stable country. Going through France, Germany, Italy etc they’d have encountered racism at the levels the U.K. suffered in the 80s.
Have you not visited Paris or Munich? Every bit as ethnically diverse as London.

Earthdweller

13,431 posts

125 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
Mr Tidy said:
coolg said:
I don't believe Calais is full of English Speakers with relatives in the UK.

There is the perception that the UK is the land of milk and honey, the reality is no longer the case, but it is far more affluent than their home country and it takes a long time to change that impression,.
I don't believe many of them speak English too fluently either, and some seem to come from places that have French as a 1st language but still don't want to stop in France!

I think they see our minimum wage and think the UK looks like Utopia - until they see what things like rent cost, but by then it's too late.
There are third generation immigrant British citizens that do not speak English

hyphen

26,262 posts

89 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
Earthdweller said:
There are third generation immigrant British citizens that do not speak English
Not many of them surely, seeing as schooling is compulsory...

StevieBee

12,795 posts

254 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
dai1983 said:
Reasons are out there on various sites and I've posted the following on the various threads:

-English language
-relatives already here
-tolerant and stable society
Yep - all of these, particularly the first. Language is the primary driver. If English cannot be spoken it is widely understood. It's why France has a very high number of migrants from North Africa.

Also from a young age many people are taught that the UK is the world centre for learning and self betterment which places the nation as an ambition for all those who wish to better themselves.

Those seeking generous financial support will continue heading north towards Scandinavia.

StevieBee

12,795 posts

254 months

Saturday 22nd August 2020
quotequote all
Earthdweller said:
There are third generation immigrant British citizens that do not speak English
I would be interested to see what evidence exists to support this - particularly as to acquire citizenship you are required to speak English.