UK closes its doors to unskilled migrants

Despite all the reactions from migrant unions and associations, the UK has updated its citizenship policy. 

The British government has modified its citizenship policy in a way that makes it almost impossible for migrants who enter the country using 'dangerous routes' to claim British citizenship.

So, what are these dangerous routes? The British government states that a "dangerous journey" includes traveling by small boat or hiding in a vehicle.

In other words, seeking asylum in the UK in the back of a truck or on a rubber dinghy has now lost its meaning.

The Home Office has changed the content of the "good character requirement" in a document that guides immigration staff on citizenship applications. The new guidance states, "From 10 February 2025, a person who applies for citizenship and has previously made a dangerous journey without the required valid entry clearance or electronic travel authorization will normally be refused citizenship."

The UK is no longer accepting unskilled migrants. The British government, which has also recently updated many visa types, considers those who risk their lives to come to the country as potentially malicious. The prevailing view is that a person who risks their own life will not have respect for the lives of others. 

Previously, those who sought asylum through these routes had to wait 10 years for British citizenship. Now it has become impossible. The UK will not grant citizenship to those who arrive by boat.

This, of course, does not apply to those who reach the UK via a commercial flight. Even though it has received public backlash, the practice has come into effect. 

So, what is the situation with us? The public is reactive, feeling that while anyone can enter the country as they please, citizenship is being handed out like candy. It turns out that the British ministry had been working on this decision for a long time. Our ministries have very different agendas. 

For example, yesterday was Valentine's Day. For instance, the Ministry of Family and Social Services made a post about Valentine's Day. And they did it using the language adolescents use among themselves. There is a cliché among young people that says, "If you love them, go talk to them, I think." The ministry referenced that and posted from its official account, saying, "If you love them, go marry them, I think." 

In other words, they explained in a humorous tone that they do not accept the state of being in a relationship and that it does not align with their worldview. One must congratulate them. Their ministries are looking for solutions to the migration problem in their countries, while we are proposing marriage from an official account because we don't like the idea of dating. The Ministry of Family and Social Services equates being a family only with marriage. However, the ministry's primary duty is the identification, care, and rehabilitation of children, women, the disabled, and the elderly in need of protection, and ensuring the establishment of institutions to provide these services. 

While femicides and child abuse continue in the country every day, we are encouraging marriage on 'Valentine's Day.' Ministries are different, of course... The Home Office in the UK and the Ministry of Family in Turkey certainly have different duties, but the seriousness of the ministries should be the same. Isn't the perspective what matters? 

Happy belated 'Valentine's Day.' Even if you don't get married, love and be loved...