Latest news with #BorderSecurityBill
The National
3 days ago
- General
- The National
Anti-migrant politics of UK leaves new Scots 'hopeless and afraid'
A host of organisations across Scotland have joined more than 350 homelessness charities, refugee organisations, LGBT+ support groups, and faith groups in a UK-wide pledge to combat 'the politics of division' and declare Britain an "island of solidarity". The statement, coordinated by Asylum Matters, warns that a growing 'politics of division is placing communities under attack'. It highlights comments by Prime Minister Keir Starmer that the UK risks "becoming an island of strangers" as he launched controversial new migration policies including extending the period before a person can apply for citizenship from five to 10 years' residency. READ MORE: The 5 big issues dominating the Hamilton by-election Support groups have said such rhetoric is having 'a real knock-on impact' on refugees and people seeking asylum in Scotland. Scottish signatories of the statement include the Scottish Refugee Council, LGBTQ+ support groups including LGBT Health and Wellbeing and Scottish Trans, and grassroots refugee support groups like Refugee Sanctuary Scotland, Ubuntu Women Shelter and Maryhill Integration Network. Dania Thomas, director of Glasgow's Ubuntu Women Shelter, said the comments from the UK Government are causing women they support to feel "too afraid to do anything". "When there are these spikes in anti-immigrant sentiment it has a real knock-on effect on the women we support: they withdraw, they won't come out to the social gatherings, they don't want to engage with the legal system, it feels hopeless and hostile, there's a complete loss of trust, fear that leads to them being too afraid to do anything really, it takes a lot of support to help them start engaging again," she said. "We have a template of what it looks like when hostile policies are announced, from when the Rwanda Act was introduced, and it was the same this time. "There had been a sense of relief that the Rwanda scheme was gone and a feeling that there's going to be a fairer asylum system, but then you have the Border Security Bill and the white paper, which is even more concerning, particularly in extending the settlement route, from five years to 10 years, that's been a big concern for women who've come through the service. Keir Starmer has said the UK risks becoming an 'island of strangers' if immigration policy is not tightened "The Government needs to be aware of how policies and rhetoric like this affects people. There are many components of the immigration system that work and many that don't work, but when you're being reactive and not thinking things through that's where the harm comes." Thomas said single mums are being particularly affected by anti-migrant politics. "If I could talk to Keir Starmer, I would want him to know that these are the people you're talking about, and this is how you're harming them," she said. Mark Kelvin, CEO of Edinburgh-based LGBT Health and Wellbeing, said the organisation's new Scots service supports more than 560 LGBT+ people who have fled their home countries, adding they want to be part of Scotland's economy and social fabric. READ MORE: The SNP's key messages in the Hamilton by-election Referencing Starmer's "island of strangers" line, he said: "These 'strangers' are people who aspire to be active citizens. "But instead, they are too often met with suspicion, hostility, and policies designed to deter rather than welcome. These divisive narratives don't protect society, they undermine it." Ekta Marwaha, CEO of Refugee Sanctuary Scotland, added: 'Over the last 30 years we have worked with individuals who have been made destitute by the immigration system. "The negative terminology and dehumanising rhetoric needs to stop as these create a divide amongst the communities we live within. It is important that politicians and the policies that are implemented focus upon language which promotes inclusivity and supports integration, rather than advocating racist ideologies.'
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Palestinian migrant who made antisemitic posts charged
A Palestinian who made antisemitic social media posts has been charged with knowingly arriving in the UK without leave, the Home Office says. Mosab Abdulkarim Al-Gassas - also known as Abu Wadee - is believed to have arrived by small boat and been brought ashore in Kent on Thursday but was not arrested until Sunday evening, a day after newspapers first reported his arrival. A Home Office spokesperson said he had been remanded in custody. Abu Wadee will appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. The Campaign Against Antisemitism said it had uncovered videos in which he prayed for all Jews to be killed, and pictures he had posted of himself holding an assault rifle. It said the Home Office must take immediate action to "ensure that he cannot pose a threat to public security". Shadow home secretary Chris Philp had written to the government earlier, calling for him to be "deported immediately". Philp said: "I am glad the authorities have tracked him down, but he should never have been able to get here in the first place." A Home Office spokesperson said earlier: "The government is committed to ending small boat crossings which undermine our border security, and restoring order to the asylum system to ensure that the rules are respected and enforced. "The British public can be reassured that we take all steps necessary at all times to protect the nation's security, including taking action in the Border Security Bill to give the police and immigration officers stronger powers to act where anyone poses a threat."
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Abu Wadee: Palestinian migrant who made antisemitic posts charged
A Palestinian who made antisemitic social media posts has been charged with knowingly arriving in the UK without leave, the Home Office Abdulkarim Al-Gassas - also known as Abu Wadee - is believed to have arrived by small boat and been brought ashore in Kent on Thursday but was not arrested until Sunday evening, a day after newspapers first reported his arrival.A Home Office spokesperson said he had been remanded in Wadee will appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. The Campaign Against Antisemitism said it had uncovered videos in which he prayed for all Jews to be killed, and pictures he had posted of himself holding an assault said the Home Office must take immediate action to "ensure that he cannot pose a threat to public security".Shadow home secretary Chris Philp had written to the government earlier, calling for him to be "deported immediately".Philp said: "I am glad the authorities have tracked him down, but he should never have been able to get here in the first place."A Home Office spokesperson said earlier: "The government is committed to ending small boat crossings which undermine our border security, and restoring order to the asylum system to ensure that the rules are respected and enforced."The British public can be reassured that we take all steps necessary at all times to protect the nation's security, including taking action in the Border Security Bill to give the police and immigration officers stronger powers to act where anyone poses a threat."
The Independent
10-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Arrest following reports of Palestinian man illegally entering UK across Channel
A man in his 30s has been arrested by immigration enforcement for entry without leave following reports that Palestinian Abu Wadee arrived in the UK in a small boat. According to the Mail on Sunday, Wadee – from the city of Khan Yunis in Gaza – is thought to have been one of the 235 migrants picked up on four small boats in the Channel on Thursday morning. The Mail claimed Wadee has a large following on social media, where his TikTok videos attract up to 2.5 million views. He is alleged to have charted his journey from Gaza on the social media channel, including posting footage of his dinghy being approached by the Border Force vessel. It is understood immigration enforcement arrested a man on the evening of March 9, and he remains in police custody. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The Government is committed to ending small boat crossings which undermine our border security, and restoring order to the asylum system to ensure that the rules are respected and enforced. 'The British public can be reassured that we take all steps necessary at all times to protect the nation's security, including taking action in the Border Security Bill to give the police and immigration officers stronger powers to act where anyone poses a threat.'
Telegraph
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Palestinian Channel migrant who called for slaughter of all Jews arrested
An alleged Palestinian gunman who crossed the Channel illegally on a small boat has been arrested, it was revealed on Monday. Abu Wadee is understood to be a former key member of a militant group who has called for the slaughter of all Jews and posed with AK-47s. Wadee, who is believed to be in his mid-30s and from the city of Khan Younis in Gaza, is thought to have been one of the 235 migrants picked up on four small boats in the Channel on Thursday morning. It is understood the extremist was arrested for entry without leave by immigration enforcement officers and is being held in custody. A Home Office spokesman said: 'The Government is committed to ending small boat crossings which undermine our border security, and restoring order to the asylum system to ensure that the rules are respected and enforced. 'The British public can be reassured that we take all steps necessary at all times to protect the nation's security, including taking action in the Border Security Bill to give the police and immigration officers stronger powers to act where anyone poses a threat.' Wadee triggered a security scare after he posted a video of himself flicking a V for victory sign at the front of a boat packed with migrants in orange life jackets. The firebrand – whose real name is Mossab Al Qassass aged in his 30s – has 170,000 Tiktok followers. He also has a YouTube channel followed by 189,000 subscribers which collects money via PayPal. He fled Gaza before the Oct 7 attacks in 2023, but he appears to have been a prominent member of the so-called 'Tyre-Burning Unit'. The militant group of Palestinian extremists are believed to have regularly hurled fire-bombs and rocks at Israeli forces manning the border with Gaza before the outbreak of war. His social media feeds show him at a rally declaring he is a member of the 'tyre burning unit'. He rails against Jews in the post, adding that his 'loftiest aspiration' is to 'die for the sake of Allah'. He posted an anti-Jew video on his Facebook page last September, ranting: 'Allah, kill them one by one, and don't leave a single one. 'Allah, destroy them completely, disperse them completely and make the earth fall from under their feet.' The UK-based Campaign Against Anti-Semitism learned of Wadei's arrival under UK last Thursday among 245 arrivals escorted on the south coast of England on Friday. The group said it had carried out exacting computer 'body-mapping' checks comparing images of the boat arrival plus with video and images on Wadei's online profiles. Yesterday, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said he would be raising the case with ministers.'What the Home Office needs to do is identify where this despicable individual is and, frankly, remove him from the country back to Palestine immediately,' he said.
