Yesterday, there was a record for the number of people crossing the Channel. Some are going to be refugees, some are economic migrants.
Sadly, I think that the least worst option is to criminalise these people and ensure that they know that they face jail time for making such crossings. I do this, knowing the hardships that they face, not just economic for those coming to our nation for work, but also those who are fleeing persecution.
However, they are coming to our shores from a safe nation where they can claim asylum. If we do not act, there will be more deaths in The Channel, but also, this will be used by those on the right to stoke up resentment and hatred.
It is silly really as we claim to be a Christian nation, and Jesus himself was an undocumented child refugee. I do think it is more important to act on the people smugglers but it is even more important to offer refugees more legal avenues to seek asylum here.
