Whatever you do, whatever you have, whatever you’ve been, wherever you go… you are a migrant. It doesn’t matter if you have got your indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or if you’ve got your citizenship… you are still a migrant.
Once I got my ILR I told myself ‘it’ll be better than before’ but it was still too hard for me. They sanctioned my benefits just because I am a migrant person with high qualifications, and they prevented me to get my course unless I show them my Home Office original letter.
Once I got my citizenship – and became a citizen of this country - I told myself ‘now it will be a new era’, but actually it’s just the same.
Recently, because of the pandemic I couldn’t work anymore and I applied for Universal Credit/Jobseekers Allowance like anyone else, but it’s the same - they ask me when and where and how you got it and where is your original Home Office letter? Again and again. They refused my first application and put me on the end of the list for the second application. They told me ‘we will not pay you forever’, and my response was: I didn’t apply for benefits for the last four years, so don’t worry.
They look to your skin colour, to your style, to your accent; not to what you already paid to be here.‘ You are from where?’ ‘What’s your origin?’ These kinds of questions are like a stigma: You Are Not A Citizen.
It’s like when you go and buy shopping from the second-hand shop - whatever the value of the things, or even if some of them are brand new, they count it as it if was second hand. We are like second hand. We are like second class citizens everywhere.
If you intend to apply for a job, you will have the least opportunity out of anyone, because your home country and skin colour will be an obstacle. Even if you are a citizen here and have good qualifications, your opportunity will be low. If you get the job, your wages will be lower than the British born citizen.
If you want to advance your qualification you need to pay much more than the British born citizen. If you want to apply for benefits and you have your ILR or citizenship, they are still asking where are you from, they may put you on the system, but at the end of the waiting list, and they put more restrictions on your application, delay and delay and delay.
Is it a stigma? Culture, norm or even tradition and honour, we are told wrongly that our body can be a stigma or a shame and now your migrant status! It is unbelievable.
But we are human and can do something good and special in this country and for this country. For you and for ourselves. We are not taking your jobs, your housing, your benefits… we are paying our tax and bills.
Together we can make a big difference, we just need support and respect.
I AM A MIGRANT – IT IS NOT A SHAME OR A STIGMA.
By EK from Safety4Sisters Migrant Women's Group