'I would jump on the boat' says ex anti-immigration campaigner
A woman who used to campaign against immigration to the UK has changed her stance after journeying from Somalia to the UK.
Jess Hallett, from Llanelli, was one of six opinionated Brits selected to take part in Channel 4's new series Go Back To Where You Came From.
She underwent the journey via people smuggling routes, experiencing the terror of small boat crossings, trekking through the African desert and climbing over border crossings.
"If I was in their shoes I would be jumping on the boat myself," she said.
"There is no life for the people living there."
She added that what is seen on the internet is "absolutely nothing to what you see in person".
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Jess said the experience "shook her to her core" and she believes more than ever that people should be seen as people.
"When you hear these stories of what these people are going through, they have absolutely nothing. And I mean nothing," she added.
The six Brits started their journey in Mogadishu in Somalia and Raqqa in Syria, two of the most dangerous cities in the world, facing scenarios which continually challenge their views.
The show features clips of Jess before the experience, where she was adamant her views won't be changed in the process.
"I know my opinion is right and I know people will agree with me... why are we continuing to allow the boats in, we are full," she said.
She said it's a completely different feeling seeing it right in front of you and the experience has changed her understanding of why people choose to make the journey.
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Jess admitted she was not interested in immigration and did not really know much until it came into her life.
As a resident in the grounds of Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli, Jess was vocal in her opposition against plans to house 241 refugees at the hotel in June 2023, taking part in protests at the hotel.
"That changed my perspective on everything, I was looking into immigration and finding out what is going on... the stuff I found online was obviously extremely bad and put me into panic mode," she said.
The controversial plans to refugees at the hotel were dropped in October 2023, but now she said her strong views on immigration have been completed altered.
"What you see on the internet is absolutely nothing to what you see in person," she added.
"I think any normal person that went there, if you didn't have any empathy then there must be something wrong," she said.
Meanwhile citizenship rules were tightened by the Home Office this week, making it almost impossible for a refugee who arrives in the UK on a small boat to become a British citizen.
The new guidance states that anyone who enters the UK illegally will "normally" be refused citizenship, regardless of the time that has passed.
Jess said she now seeks out more experiences in different people's cultures, having recently spent three months in Thailand.
She said she was inspired by families she met first-hand in Somalia, who made use of their resources from nothing.
"What they go through, the families, what they eat... we helped them cook and they were cutting meat up with their toes," she said.
"I was amazed by them, an eight-year-old girl was showing me how to cut, it's incredible how they manage with nothing."
Recalling what she has taken away from the show, she said: "I don't care where you're from, just be respectful."
Go Back To Where You Came From continues on Monday at 21:00 GMT on Channel 4, with the full series available to stream on demand.
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