Over the years, I have pondered on several things that converge to convince me of the rightness of this campaign. One of them is what used to be the tradition in the United Kingdom of being a refuge for dissidents. In the 1970s, two North African air-force officers who were part of a plot to overthrow the king of their country sought asylum in Gibraltar. The tradition of refuge - when, as in their case, return meant certain execution - was still so entrenched that my Foreign and Commonwealth Office friends took it for granted that the Prime Minister would allow them to remain. They were utterly shocked when he did not. Since then, the likelihood of all sorts of dreadful fates upon return has been downplayed in official efforts to portray asylum-seekers as 'economic migrants'. But then I wonder, even if true in some cases, what is wrong with this? Norman Tebbit once famously advised those in the poorer regions of the United Kingdom not to moan but, like his father and others in the 1920s-30s, to 'get on their bikes' to seek improved circumstances elsewhere. The stories gathered by the Citizen Organising Foundation (on its website and youtube) are poignant illustrations of the interactions of the political and economic factors that force people to flee. They also demonstrate beyond doubt that people want to, and can, contribute to their adopted society - if only they were allowed to do so in a regularized way. Thus, I fully support the campaign for an 'amnesty' under the conditions indicated on this website.

Elizabeth Meehan
Professor Emerita
School of Law
Institute of Governance
Queen's University Belfast

The home office will continue to dream about deporting each and every illegal immigrant in the uk.
This period as they have quoted will last about 25 years costing them billions of pounds, but have they or will they wake up for a minute and think that by the time the 5th or 10th year has passed, many will have the right to apply for citizenship.
I have learnt that an illegal immigrant only needs to be in this country for 14 years to apply for citizenship. So think people, in 25 years, you will not be deporting todays illegal immigrants.
The decision to deport them is not only unreasonable but irresponsible.

Legendry

I write to express my gratitude for your desire to help to so many in this country. Your work gives hope to have a fresh start in Great Britain to the thousands of people like me.

Arsen.

Please send your comments to strangersintocitizens@cof.org.uk