My journey through the immigration system shows things must change

I’ve been in the UK since 2000. I had a long and difficult journey travelling through many different countries. When I got here, I knew nothing about refugees or asylum seekers. But I know a lot more after navigating the UK asylum system for the last 24 years.

When I arrived here, I had no idea what to do. And for ten years I lived under the radar, working where I could, when I could. Living in limbo was so painful. It’s like you’re not even a human being. Every time I saw someone in a suit, I just panicked. There are so many barriers when you’re living underground – I couldn’t even go to the doctor. Not having any security or stability was one of the worst things.

Eventually the police came for me. In 2010 I made my claim for asylum to the Home Office, but in only a matter of days they’d refused me. I was sent to an immigration detention centre in Glasgow, which is why I’m in Scotland today. Being in detention was so hard, even though my experiences were so much better than people I know who’ve been detained in England. Refugees should never be locked up like this. Especially children, pregnant women, or disabled refugees. We deserve so much more.

I’ve waited 24 years to get two and a half years right to remain. I have more security right now than I’ve ever had, but in only two years I’ll have to reapply. And I’ve heard that this process can be just as stressful, and I might have to wait a long time. And I won’t be able to work again. It’s an unending nightmare. The next government really needs to change this horrible system. This is my hope that people like me can just start to get on with our lives.

It's a real shame that people are believing the lies being spread about refugees. We’re not coming here for jobs or benefits. We’re not, we just want to live a safe life. Nothing is quick, everything is a struggle, and takes so long. I don’t deserve to be discriminated against just because I’ve come here from somewhere else. Do you think I don’t want to go home? I want to speak my language, I want to eat my food, I want to be with my family. But I wasn’t safe there, and I can’t go back.

I blame the people in power for not telling the truth about why people like me leave our homes in the first place, for not standing up for us. This isn’t new, and people will keep moving no matter what. The Government can’t ‘stop the boats’ because people fleeing war and violence will always try to find safety.

I’ve been here so long that I’ve lived under all the different politicians who’ve made the lives of refugees in this country so much worse. I really don’t know where all the hate comes from. And how they’ve turned people against each other. I’ve seen first-hand how bad things have got. And I’m really angry for all the suffering they’ve caused.

The current government has been so divisive and promoted so much hate. All the anti-refugee policies I’ve seen over the years are cruel, they treat us like we’re not even human beings.

I’ve been lucky compared to some of the people I know. Over the years I’ve kept myself busy by doing comedy shows and becoming a member of One Strong Voice (the UK’s first coalition of campaigners with lived experience of the immigration and asylum system). I know others haven’t been so lucky.

I now run a podcast to highlight refugee voices. I started it during the Covid lockdown even though I knew nothing about making a podcast! I want it to be a space for refugees to come together, a safe place for us to share our experiences and vital information on things like combatting loneliness and how to access UK services.

To the future government – I’m asking them to change all the wrongs that we’ve seen when it comes to how people who’re seeking safety have been treated. The hostile environment has to end. Plans like shipping refugees off to Rwanda have to be scrapped immediately. We need to be allowed to work while waiting for our claims to be heard. We need compassion and kindness so we can rebuild our lives and become part of local communities. If they believe in human rights, they need to urgently clean up the UK asylum system. Lives depend on it.

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