One of the enduring mysteries of illegal migration in Europe concerns the desperation to leave France in favor of the United Kingdom. France being a safe, rich country under the rule of law, why not make a life there? Why risk life and limb to cross the treacherous English Channel where, this month, 27 people died in a single incident?
The Daily Telegraph (London) dispatched Helen Chandler-Wilde and Luke Mintz to find out. Here are six testimonials they collected from Middle Eastern males:
Alem (a pseudonym), a young Eritrean: Poor treatment at the hands of the French authorities. Every day, the French police moved the migrants from their resting places, forcing them to find another one – under a bridge, a disused warehouse. "I like England more than France, I have friends here. It was not good in France; England is better. I want to study [in the UK], I hope later."
Jawmar Ali Mahmoud, an Iraqi Kurd: He would "never" claim asylum in France. "People [in Calais] are cold, hungry, penniless. I think police in Kurdistan, police in France are no different. ... Even if I am in the Jungle [a migrant area in Calais] 10 years, I won't want asylum in France."
An unnamed Sudanese: He recounted a security guard at a Calais gas station setting his dog on a group of migrants. The dog bit one man's leg "and drew blood, while another man fell and broke his leg running away. I ask the UK to take all the Sudanese refugees from the Jungle. Being here is an unbearable struggle."
Bahoz, a Kurd: "Smuggler violence, police violence. ... it's all part of the deal."
Hussein, 27 and Iraqi: "The [English] language, the people are good."
Dezhwah, 24 and Iraqi: He has read "lots of books, lots of novels" about Britain. "I know England is a very good country, they help other guys. There [are] in England many people from other places. But in France it is a very different country."
Comments:
(1) Other than the English language, it would seem that French officialdom is much tougher than its British counterpart on illegals, and this spurs them to risk all to find sanctuary in the United Kingdom.
(2) If France is so bad, why not go to one of the seven the terrestrial neighbors, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, or Andorra? (November 28, 2021)
