New Plan for Immigration

Dr Maya Goodfellow
Research Fellow, Sheffield University.

Just when I am in full flow about the awfulness of the Republican Party’s gross rush to pass legislation suppressing voters in 43 States in the U.S., [ over 350 separate pieces of legislation, and counting…] I bought a New York Times yesterday [2/04/2021] and the lead political column on the front page was entitled: A Britain Now Built On Cruelty. The writer, Maya Goodfellow, a Research Fellow at Sheffield University, was commenting on the new immigration plan put forward by the ghastly Priti Patel, Home Secretary. Maya describes its proposals as “deeply sinister

Priti Patel.

”. Apparently, Priti, [I suspect a deeply authoritarian upbringing here!], proposes to welcome immigrants only coming via re-settlement schemes [fewer than 1% globally]. Others taking the only ways open to them of paying huge sums to people-smugglers, hiding on boats or on/under lorries, risking all, including loss of life, to reach Britain from non-E.U. countries, will be blocked from State support if they successfully arrive, given diminished family rights and be permanently liable for removal even if granted asylum.

Since Boris et al came to power, the UK immigration system has hardened. From January 1 this year, a points-based system was introduced which applies to both E.U and non-E.U. countries, thereby extending the unjustness of the non E.U. immigration rules to

Europeans, who before Brexit could go to live freely anywhere in the UK. Thus, there are now outrageously high immigration fees; limited or no access to basic state support; annual high fees to use the National Health Service [whether or not individuals pay taxes] In addition there is the new points system; thus 20 points if an immigrant has a job offer from a Government-approved firm;

Boris with flag collage.

10 points for a job-appropriate PhD; minimum income offered of £25,000 per annum; plus certain mandatory, job-specific skills. Effectively, low-paid workers are excluded. This increasingly immigrant-hostile system, since the General Election in 2019, has enabled Govt. representatives to ignore strong advice from a variety of civic organisations, to ensure all migrants were protected from Covid19, regardless of status, including access to health care and other public services. Some immigrants have remained locked in detention centres in spite of Covid outbreaks in some, and while ample travel advice and warnings against international travel have been available to the general population, immigrants have continued to be detained and many to be deported, often removed from family in Britain. Over 20 deportation flights took place during 2020, as boasted by Boris. There is, obviously, no safety net for the many who are already in the U.K. who dare not seek health advice or treatment in case of official apprehension and deportation.

It makes me even more ashamed to be British to learn from Maya that this anti-immigrant rhetoric and context, which I have vaguely heard but not considered, has been official policy for decades, at least since the 1968 Commonwealth Immigrants Act aimed at making it more difficult for people of colour to go to the UK to live and work. This links uncomfortably but surely to the wretched colonial system which enriched Britain among others, while draining wealth from the colonies. Boris et al are simply taking it to the next level; interesting, nay, enraging, how a self-proclaimed liberal bon viveur, often a stranger to the truth, will tighten the screws on the unprotected once he has the power to do so.

And meantime, I have been waxing indignant, not to say furious, at the Republican cult, ignoring a basic principle that electors choose their political representatives, as the G.O.P. seeks through law to choose its preferred electors and disenfranchise the unwanted, the poor and the blacks, all in the ‘game’ of acquiring, and keeping, power.. Quite apart from other considerations, it is irritating not to be able to feel a tiny bit more superior to the racist former slave states but, thanks to Boris et al, I cannot.

I always shudder, inwardly, at American racism, especially visible in the Southern States, and the strong American belief in its own exceptionalism. And now with Boris and the Brexiteers firmly in control in the UK, I am dismayed, indeed horrified, to witness the degree of anti-immigrant legislation and open hostility of the Government towards migrants. Plus, there are Conservative murmurs of British exceptionalism and ……….unbelievably ………talk of flags on municipal buildings. Horror of horrors! The leading taken-for-granted facet of American life which never fails to repel is the way ALL politicians have to affirm their belief in God [the Christian one, obviously] AND in patriotism. And I haven't even mentioned Trump who gave permission for, encouragement to, people to display their worst inclinations.

Trump mania intermixed with religiosity.
Frightening combination.

Difficult to get rid of the imperialist mindset.

Maya Goodfellow is the author of, Hostile Environment: How Immigrants Became Scapegoats.