B’s story
Watch the video and read the full story below.
“I chose to make the journey to the UK based on what family and friends described. They depicted it as a place of opportunity and prosperity.
I was told by everyone that living in the UK would be a dream, like a meadow filled with flowers, and I would find everything I needed very easily.
Living and working in the UK has not matched up at all with my expectations.
I wasn’t told much about the crossing – only that it was very safe. The journey from France to the UK was significantly different from what the traffickers described to me. We boarded the small boat at night. There were about 30 individuals on it. It was very scary to navigate through the dark – we could barely see our hands in front of us”
Despite initially calm seas, the situation took a turn when heavy rain began to fall halfway through the journey, causing the boat to fill with water up to our shins. We used our hands to scoop out the water, however this wasn’t working. We were drenched from the rain and sea water.
“I had limited knowledge of the legal situation surrounding employment in the UK, as the traffickers assured us that the primary challenge was reaching the UK itself. According to them, once we arrived, all aspects, including accommodation and employment, would be readily manageable. They said they can help in securing work and obtaining a National Insurance Number if needed. They also claimed that individuals had been residing and working in the UK without legal status for more than 25 years, leading seemingly normal lives.
After 2-3 months, I found myself hoping to return home. Adapting proved challenging, particularly with the demanding nature of a 12-hour daily construction shift, seven days a week. The only reason I continued working was to make sure I at least made enough to repay the money I borrowed to make the journey before I went back home. I struggled to assimilate into the local culture, intensifying my sense of displacement.
I am very dissatisfied with my decision to come to the UK. Putting my life at significant risk on those small boats was an experience I regret. Not only would I never make this decision again, but I would strongly advise my friends and family against taking a similar path.
Also, it’s become so difficult to be an illegal immigrant in the UK. The government offers no support or help to seek asylum. The financial reality is that the cost of living in the UK doesn’t align with the income from a labour-intensive job. It’s becoming more difficult to find work without documentation and you can easily be left out on the streets and then turn to risking your life in drug dealing.”
It’s very easy to be manipulated to working in drug dealing, especially if you can’t manage to find a cash in hand job and are desperate for money.
“The risks associated with attempting a new life in the UK are not justified. Working as a tradesman at home, with a house and family, often provides a better standard of living compared to the challenges you might face in the UK. The struggle to make ends meet and send money back home while being alone in a foreign country is very difficult. I would strongly discourage and do whatever it takes to prevent friends and family from undertaking the risky journey to the UK.”
