During my exchange study in London, I reported about the story of an undocumented resident living in the city. A national campaign called Strangers into Citizens has held these long-term illegal migrants together, urging the government to open up a pathway for them to become the real citizens in London.
When I told Xiao Lin (alias) to meet atBarbican for our interview, I felt quite surprised that he hadn’t even heardabout this place. Having been living in London for more than seven years, thisChinese undocumented migrant in his fifties, still hasn’t felt integrated withthe city. Without the right of residence and legal citizenship in UK, he simplyfeels that he is not a part of the society.
People like Xiao Lin are numerous in thiscity.
More and more undocumented migrants are nowliving in London, raising a range of questions for people to think about.
What kind of life they are leading?
Do they deserve a legal residence?
What will their future be like?
The invisible hidden population
Figures from the Great London Authority revealsthat estimated 380,000 of undocumented migrants have been living in London bythe end of 2007, representing about 5% of its population.
As believed by the Office of NationalStatistics, most of them are from Asia and Africa who have overstayed on visas foryears.
In most cases, these undocumented migrants willnot be counted into the population of London. They are neglected and become theinvisible hidden population around us.
I asked Xiao Lin why he preferred to stayin London rather than in other places, he told me in his Mandarin with strongsouthern accent that it is because Londoners are more compassionate.
“I’ve illegally lived in Russia, France,Germany, and some other countries that I don’t really remember before,” he said,“but only people here won’t report me to the police. They make me feel easierto stay.”
Hard life in London
Despite the easier environment for migrants,these ‘’invisible’’ people still lead a hard life in London.
For a long time, Xiao Lin has been livingin a room with more than ten people, which hardly provide any heater in winter.He paid for his small bed 20 pounds a week, occupying almost one fifth of hiswage.
“The room is full of migrants and it’s unsafe.Once we were robbed by some big black people with guns on them. But we have togo on living. This is the only place we can afford.” Xiao Lin said.
Since they are denied any right to work,most of these people will take whatever job that are willing to hire them, evenif they are low-paid, earning less than one hundred pounds a week.
“Sometimes people take advantages on us,” XiaoLin complained, “They just don’t pay us after we finished the work. They knowwe won’t go to the police for help. We will be arrested.’’
Strangers into Citizens
Although life is tough, most of them haveno choice but only to struggle and stay.
Mr Zhuang, who came from Malaysia manyyears ago, has found himself lost in a legal limbo.
After he had given up his Malaysiancitizenship and had obtained the British Overseas Citizens passport (BOC),which was issued to Malaysian as a pre-requisite of applying for UKcitizenship, he was announced by the previous Labour government that the BOCpassports were no longer accepted.
The sudden change of policy made himstateless, having no right to work, to get married and to go back home.
“Life is hopeless,” he said to the media.
Stories as such keep happening, which drewthe attention of Citizens UK organization in London.
They cooperated with different communitiesto launch a campaign called “Strangers into Citizens”, encouraging 20,000 ofthe “invisibles” people from different places to walk out and spoke out theirneed.
“Their ask is simple,” said Nikki Lee, theteam leader of Chinese community in the campaign, “They want to have workingpermit, to pay tax, to become the citizen and to contribute.”
Having held a numbers of marches and demonstrationsin London, the campaign clearly calls for a one-off regularization which allowsthe majority of long time undocumented residents without criminal records to begiven a three-year working permit, providing them a pathway into citizens.
The LSEestimates that this plan will bring about 3 billion pounds of taxes to the UKeconomy, compared to an estimated cost of 11,000 pounds for deporting eachmigran.
Long way towardssuccess
With thehelp of organizations and communities, undocumented residents have won much supportfrom MPs and residents.
A surveyhas found out that about 66% of British people believe that long timeundocumented residents should have the right to stay and work.
“We havewon the argument,” said Nikki, “but not yet the politics.”
Althoughit was promised by Nick Clegg before the general election that Lib-Dem wanted a system which allowed some illegal immigrantsalready in the country to become legal, to pay taxes and even to become Britishcitizens, it can hardly come true.
When the new coalition government finallyannounced its tough plan on immigration policies a few days ago, it appearedthat the Lib-Dem’s promise for illegal immigrants had been completely abandoned.
“I’ve been struggling and waiting for toolong.” Xiao Lin said.
Justas what Nikki told me, the “invisibles” still have a very long way to go,before they can finally reach their dream and become a real Londoner.
People like Xiao Lin are numerous in thiscity.
More and more undocumented migrants are nowliving in London, raising a range of questions for people to think about.
What kind of life they are leading?
Do they deserve a legal residence?
What will their future be like?
The invisible hidden population
Figures from the Great London Authority revealsthat estimated 380,000 of undocumented migrants have been living in London bythe end of 2007, representing about 5% of its population.
As believed by the Office of NationalStatistics, most of them are from Asia and Africa who have overstayed on visas foryears.
In most cases, these undocumented migrants willnot be counted into the population of London. They are neglected and become theinvisible hidden population around us.
I asked Xiao Lin why he preferred to stayin London rather than in other places, he told me in his Mandarin with strongsouthern accent that it is because Londoners are more compassionate.
“I’ve illegally lived in Russia, France,Germany, and some other countries that I don’t really remember before,” he said,“but only people here won’t report me to the police. They make me feel easierto stay.”
Hard life in London
Despite the easier environment for migrants,these ‘’invisible’’ people still lead a hard life in London.
For a long time, Xiao Lin has been livingin a room with more than ten people, which hardly provide any heater in winter.He paid for his small bed 20 pounds a week, occupying almost one fifth of hiswage.
“The room is full of migrants and it’s unsafe.Once we were robbed by some big black people with guns on them. But we have togo on living. This is the only place we can afford.” Xiao Lin said.
Since they are denied any right to work,most of these people will take whatever job that are willing to hire them, evenif they are low-paid, earning less than one hundred pounds a week.
“Sometimes people take advantages on us,” XiaoLin complained, “They just don’t pay us after we finished the work. They knowwe won’t go to the police for help. We will be arrested.’’
Strangers into Citizens
Although life is tough, most of them haveno choice but only to struggle and stay.
Mr Zhuang, who came from Malaysia manyyears ago, has found himself lost in a legal limbo.
After he had given up his Malaysiancitizenship and had obtained the British Overseas Citizens passport (BOC),which was issued to Malaysian as a pre-requisite of applying for UKcitizenship, he was announced by the previous Labour government that the BOCpassports were no longer accepted.
The sudden change of policy made himstateless, having no right to work, to get married and to go back home.
“Life is hopeless,” he said to the media.
Stories as such keep happening, which drewthe attention of Citizens UK organization in London.
They cooperated with different communitiesto launch a campaign called “Strangers into Citizens”, encouraging 20,000 ofthe “invisibles” people from different places to walk out and spoke out theirneed.
“Their ask is simple,” said Nikki Lee, theteam leader of Chinese community in the campaign, “They want to have workingpermit, to pay tax, to become the citizen and to contribute.”
Having held a numbers of marches and demonstrationsin London, the campaign clearly calls for a one-off regularization which allowsthe majority of long time undocumented residents without criminal records to begiven a three-year working permit, providing them a pathway into citizens.
The LSEestimates that this plan will bring about 3 billion pounds of taxes to the UKeconomy, compared to an estimated cost of 11,000 pounds for deporting eachmigran.
Long way towardssuccess
With thehelp of organizations and communities, undocumented residents have won much supportfrom MPs and residents.
A surveyhas found out that about 66% of British people believe that long timeundocumented residents should have the right to stay and work.
“We havewon the argument,” said Nikki, “but not yet the politics.”
Althoughit was promised by Nick Clegg before the general election that Lib-Dem wanted a system which allowed some illegal immigrantsalready in the country to become legal, to pay taxes and even to become Britishcitizens, it can hardly come true.
When the new coalition government finallyannounced its tough plan on immigration policies a few days ago, it appearedthat the Lib-Dem’s promise for illegal immigrants had been completely abandoned.
“I’ve been struggling and waiting for toolong.” Xiao Lin said.
Justas what Nikki told me, the “invisibles” still have a very long way to go,before they can finally reach their dream and become a real Londoner.
