General Chat

the problem is the length of time it takes to hear their cases if they are denied immigration status they can then reapply which takes months even years, in the meantime they entiitled to certain benefits , but are not allowed to work . The human trafficers are the problem we should be looking at , these people bring thousands of immigrants into our country and are making a huge amount of money from them lorraine

We are not talking about Asylum Seekers or Legal immigration, this is illegal immigration -ie entering the country illegally - by attempting to get through controls . The illegal routes to the UK Document fraud and forgery Clandestine entry unfounded asylum claims legal visitors overstaying

Trafficking and Forced Labour: 4,000 women in the UK have been trafficked for sexual exploition. Children trafficked for domestic servitude. Serious Crime 13% of the prison population are foreign nationals.. Bogus Colleges.

No neither do I David, it's just when you realise that so many are not genuine, We have abuse from so many sources people don't realise, about 15 a month heavily pregnant women arrive in the UK with the intention of using NHS maternity service.

Carol I have to agree with what your saying. I remember reading about a similar thing ref the pregnant women arriving in Ireland. I have no problem with the 'real' asylum seakers coming in - after all that could have easily have been us if we had been born into such unfortunate circumstances, my problem is the ones who all seem to come from the same country ALONE (men only). I spoke to a friend the other day and she said when she walks around the mall in the city she cant understand a word that is being spoken, none of it being English! I am not saying all of these are illegals but you can bet your bottom dollar that a percentage of them are - greedy landlords encourage it too!! Debs x

Monty Smith, Re your' Gas Chamber Remark', you are totally out of order and should say sorry to other members on here who have given their honest opinion and do not need 'Crass' Remarks like that directed at them,This is a subject for sensible debate not point scoring by you. Most of the 'Illegal Imigrants' have a choice of Countries which they pass through en route to the UK where they can obtain Asylum,but they choose to come here because of the soft system we have here.The Indigious Population and indeed lots of recent Imigrants are saying 'Enough is Enough' we cannot support all of the world and why should?. Hal.

This new system where they recieve a text message reminding them that their visa has expired,,,,,,is this for Legal immigrants,?

Claire-I think the texts are for those who are on temporary visas. It's a reminder that their time is up...so to speak.... Well said Hal!! I did find that remark most unnecessary and highly offensive too, this is quite a sensible debat with an exchange of views on a very difficult subject, as while we may sympathies with those in real need, we can't just be a stopping of place for all and sundry at the cost of our welfare system, which is already under funded and straining to cope with those who are genuinly entitled to use it! Someone has to say enough is enough.... Nanna-Moo

Its a bit like 'locking the stable door after the horse has bolted'

correct me if i'm wrong, but aren't any immigrants supposed to register in the first safe country they arrive in???? If that is correct then surely we'd should have none as they'd have to pass thru several safe countries to get to the UK. trouble is they want to come her as we are a soft touch. One country, Holland I think, again willing to be corrected, puts ALL immigrants into detentions centres while they work on their papers, any who don't meet the critea as deported.

Long overdue!!! Caz xx

We all need to be VERY careful here. Yes, these people ARE human beings too & want a better quality of life - there but for the grace of God go any one of us. BUT I totally agree with most of what is being said - that these immigrants shouldn't be getting the handouts from the government that you & I are paying for through our taxes - no wonder the country's in the state it's in. You have to realise that we could ALL be called racist for these views & Enoch Powell was expelled from the Conservative Party for advocating such ideas back in the 1960's (I think) - he ended his days here in NI as an Ulster Unionist MP because he became an outcast in mainland GB. By The Way: DID YOU KNOW - that immigrants are exempt from having to pay car tax for 6 months on the death-traps they call cars when they first arrive in this country?? Ails

I agree with all that has been said, it should be stopped, however the only reason the government is doing something now is to stop loosing votes as it one of the issues that is making them unpopular. Economically it is not normally worth them bothering as the amounts of money involved, as a percentage of the total benefits budget is small. The government are also looking at other ways of reducing the cost of benefits. for those who are interested they cost the country more than £100,000,000,000 (£100bn) per year, even more than the NHS . This equates to a massive £1,500 tax cost for every single man, woman and child. On Monday, the Government backed a 'radical' review of the welfare system including a new requirement for lone parents to look for work once their youngest child reaches 12, despite the threat of an angry backlash from campaigners and unions. The report recommended a new drive to stop people going back on to benefits after finding work, a new role for job centres to assess how much help individual claimants need before going for an interview, and an overhaul of the benefits system to make it simpler.

All i can say is about time...these people are denying our children decent schooling..decent healthcare ..according to the paper every council has to pay an extra £200,000 a month to house these people what annoys me is that they should seek refuge in the nearest country who will take them..this is not happening and they all seem to be coming here why?because we are such a soft touch...i say charity begins at homexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx((((:

i think the goverment should do more for lone parents...my niece is desperate to get a job...but she would lose too many benifets and be worse off on the dole...its a catch twenty twoxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)))):

The problem with this country is that the welfare state is too good. When i was working as a housing benefit officer there were leaflets printed that were handed to immigrants on how to cheat the benefits system. The benefits system was created to provide help for people who could not work due to illness , or having underschool age children . A reform is needed of the system not just for immigrants but for all people claiming in this country.The most needy, such as the elderly and sick could have a lot more services provided free , if people who could work were made to work.

Too many people believe everything they read in the papers! Most of the people who have fled difficulties in other countries genuinely want to pay their own way and try very hard to do so despite the prejudice that is inflicted on them by the ill informed. It's really not a subject that you can apply any sweeping generalisation to - and my view is based on experience working in homelessness. Andrea

i so agree they should'nt be allowed in, they take all our jobs, all because they will work for less money. my son is unemployed and he has sent application after application and he gets nowhere!!!! they don't even reply, and why is that! get my drift!!!! i am on the sick and having treatment for an illness, i had my IB stopped over 12 months ago cos they said i was fit for work, now i am on IS which is less to live on, and i was born in this country!!! every time i have to phone anywhere like BT etc,etc, you can garentee it will be a foriegner who answers!

Well said carol lorraine

My husband & I are one of the many couples, nearing pension age, in the UK who pay our Income Tax, National Insurance, Council Tax & all our own bills. There is no spare money for Pension Funds, expensive holidays, or for new cars. If a person has a valid reason not to work because of ill health, etc. I do not mind that I am helping to keep them. I do object to keeping Illegal Immigrants or Healthy Malingerers. If you are a healthy adult, you should be prepared to work to keep yourself, not expect someone else to do it. When filling in a form asking for your occupation details it should say – Unemployed is not an Occupation, but Seeking Employment is! As for Single parents, who’s youngest child is over12, why should I help pay adults to do nothing between 9am-3pm, 5days a week, for 37weeks of the year? No-one paid our rent & bills, when our children were at school. There are always jobs available, if you are willing to do them! I have scrubbed floors, picked fruit/veg & done other people's ironing.( & do I hate ironing!!!) All so that I could buy my children B/Day presents.