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Ukraine crisis sheds light on racism in UK policy making

BIANCA RAHIMI

PRESS TV, LONDON

The Home office has verified that the majority of people trying to reach the UK’s shores via the English Channel are fleeing war and a persecution. This comes in response to allegations made by the home secretary, that the majority are illegitimate in her own words “asylum shoppers”.

The issue of Ukrainian refugees also got off to a rocky start, with the home secretary suggesting they could benefit from fruit picker visas. Under pressure, the government is offering emergency visas for those with family members already living in Britain.

But at the same time the government is pushing through legislation that will criminalize those coming from the middle-east and Africa, specifically, via the French channel. And people protesting this are getting mixed responses.

It’s interesting that since we started reporting here today, we have heard passersby make some pretty off color remarks about refugees coming over here, which confirms that lack of sympathy does exist here, and some would say those sentiments stem from misinformation and racism.

The Border and Nationality Bill will give the UK extraordinary powers to criminalize, prosecute and imprison refugees, and give the coastguard immunity from prosecution if refugees die at sea. There have been widespread protests demanding this bill be scrapped, specifically now that the government is poised to issue hundreds of thousands of visas for Ukrainians, proving when there is a will, there is a way.


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