Opinion

Deportation Woes

The Government’s treatment of overseas nationals is reprehensible, and is threatening a large number of students at Imperial

Deportation Woes

Okay, so you’ve studied here for perhaps as much as four years, or maybe even more. You look at your peers on your course and perhaps it doesn’t occur to you that they may soon become ‘persona not grata’ due to visa restrictions, and very soon be unceremoniously removed from the country.

It’s odd to think that HM Government would be so keen to deport hard-working, intelligent people at a time of economic difficulty like this. But, unfortunately, they lack those magic words ‘European Union’ on their passports and so they’re screwed. Never mind that they may be Australians or Canadians or Hong Kongers, who are British in all but name, and whose family sacrificed so much to keep us free from oppression in the 1940s. They’re not welcome, oh no!

It’s really disgusting, our priorities as a country. Firstly, our Government fights to prevent giving Right of Abode to Gurkhas, and it’s only in the face of a campaign by Joanna Lumley and both the Conservatives and Lib Dems that the then Labour Government relents. Secondly, we’ve had a Government reluctant to allow loyal Afghan interpreters, fearful for their lives, the right to live here.

However you look at it, it’s a weird set of priorities. Those who have put their trust in Britain get screwed over, yet those who have contributed nothing get everything, just because we’re members of an undemocratic, self-serving organisation like the European Union.

What’s perhaps worse than the cases I’ve highlighted is those of British Nationals (Overseas). They are Hong Kongers, born before the Handover to communist China, who chose to adopt some form of British Nationality while they still lived in a British territory. Their passports look exactly like ours, have the Royal Crest on the front, and are issued with the full authority of the Crown. Woe betide them, however, if they thought they could live in the country of their nationality! No, BN(O) gives no rights to live in the UK. You may have moved to Hong Kong thinking the British would protect you from the evil regime you fled. I’m afraid you were mistaken. Our Government, guided by our civil service, doesn’t care about you. We only care about being ‘good Europeans’.

If you do have a sense of right and wrong, and are a British Subject, you can sign a petition about giving full rights to BN(O)s at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/44679.

Christopher Kaye is next year’s Campaigns Officer and tweets @okaye_chris

Read more

Peter Haynes to take over Provost role in October

News

Peter Haynes to take over Provost role in October

Professor Peter Haynes has been appointed as the new Provost and Deputy President of Imperial College. The current  Vice-Provost for Education and Student Experience, Haynes will succeed the outgoing Provost, Professor Ian Walmsley, who has served in the role since 2018. Imperial President Hugh Brady said Professors Haynes and Walmsley

By Guillaume Felix
Why RAG’s bungee jump event never took place

News

Why RAG’s bungee jump event never took place

Earlier this academic year, Imperial Raising and Giving (RAG), had announced the return of their charity bungee jump after a hiatus of 10 years. The event, however, was postponed several times, and Felix can now reveal why it was cancelled. The event, initially scheduled for November 13th, was postponed several

By Mohammad Majlisi and Nadeen Daka
Palestine protests ramp up as year ends and tensions rise

News

Palestine protests ramp up as year ends and tensions rise

Saturday 7th June: Pro-Palestinian protestors hold banners as they stand on ALERT at the Great Exhibition Road Festival. Tuesday 10th June: A student announces a hunger strike asking for Imperial to investigate Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism, form a student-staff working group on ethical investment, and divest from arms companies accused

By Mohammad Majlisi