Every day seems to bring new insults aimed at asylum seekers and refugees. We’re called scroungers, rapists, or fighting-age men who should have stayed in our home countries. Sometimes we’re just labeled “illegals”—the most dehumanizing term of all. When did it become a crime to run for your life?
Those who make these accusations are loud and persistent. Lies spread easily, and most of us are too afraid to speak up and correct them. I wonder how many of our accusers have ever sat down with us, person to person, and listened to our stories. Here’s mine.
I grew up in Syria. My childhood was safe and happy—almost idyllic when I look back. But in 2011, the Arab Spring and the civil war changed everything. I was imprisoned twice for protesting against the Assad regime, but leaving never crossed my mind. Like many young people, I never thought death would find me.
Everything changed when I was nearly killed in a missile attack in a suburb of Aleppo. I was only 17, and in that moment, I realized I wanted to live. So I escaped—first to Turkey, then through Europe until I reached Calais. I hoped to reach the UK for two reasons: my aunt and cousins live here, and after my mum died when I was 14, my aunt became like a second mother to me. I also spoke English. What people don’t understand about refugees is how exhausted we are from everything we’ve been through. All I wanted was to rest and be with my aunt.
I spent 10 months in Calais trying to get to Britain. This was before small boat crossings became the main method, but smugglers were already there. We all resented them because they made it harder to cross the Channel without their involvement. I tried everything: hiding in lorries, cargo trains, sneaking into the port to get on a ferry.
At that time, the French police were attacking migrants, just as they do now. Sometimes they were helpful, telling us when border guards changed shifts—the best time to try to sneak onto a train or lorry. Sometimes French and British border officers wished us luck; some saw us as human, others as criminals.
When I finally made it to the UK in 2017, I thought I’d found safety. But my experience with the Home Office reminded me I hadn’t. I always felt treated like a criminal. I had to report regularly to a police station, and it took more than two years for my asylum case to be decided.
Outside of the government, British society was generally more welcoming back then. I could walk down the street in one of the UK’s diverse cities and blend in. I met wonderful people who made me feel like I belonged.
Everything changed when the previous government introduced the now-cancelled Rwanda scheme. People were detained and threatened with deportation. Even though I had been granted leave to remain by then, I was terrified the government would come after me too. That fear has only grown since the Home Office changed its policy this February: people like me who entered irregularly will now “normally be refused citizenship.” One of my recurring nightmares is shouting for help on the street with no one hearing me. Now, I feel like I’m living that nightmare.
After living in the UK for a few years, I understand the politics better. People want someone to blame for the state of the economy and public services—and migrants and refugees are the easiest targets. Some believe the lies spread about us. I work as a cinematographer and also volunteer as an Arabic interpreter for a charity. I speak with many young people whose ages are disputed—the Home Office insists they’re adults and places them in adult hotels. When I listen to them, it’s obvious they’re children. They cry on the phone to me. They hate being in hotels, forced to share rooms with adults they don’t know.I don’t know.
Most refugees dream of returning home if it ever becomes safe again. I often think back to the security of my childhood. I grew up surrounded by the scents of jasmine and geranium in our garden. Here, I’ve planted them too, trying to recreate a sense of home. No matter how much I contribute to this country, I still feel I’ll always be seen as a criminal—someone at risk of being sent back, no matter how dangerous my homeland remains.
Open, explicit racism seems to be increasing in Britain. It starts with refugees like me and other migrants, but soon they’ll target others simply for not being white, or for belonging to the “wrong” religion, or for their sexual orientation. If we don’t act now, things will only get worse.
As told to Diane Taylor
Ayman Alhussein is a Syrian filmmaker based in London.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs based on the topic I am a legal refugee in Britain So why am I always treated like a criminal in a natural conversational tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What does it mean to be a legal refugee in the UK
It means the UK government has officially recognised that you had a wellfounded fear of persecution in your home country and has granted you refugee status or humanitarian protection You have the legal right to live and work here
2 Why would a legal refugee feel treated like a criminal
Refugees often face negative stereotypes and prejudice They might be subjected to increased suspicion hostile questioning from officials or the public and a general assumption that they are here to break the rules or commit crimes even though they are here legally for safety
3 Is it common for refugees to be treated this way
Unfortunately yes Many refugees report feeling stigmatised and discriminated against because of their status nationality or accent despite having followed all the legal procedures to be in the UK
4 What are some everyday examples of this treatment
Examples include being stared at or hearing negative comments in public being questioned aggressively by landlords or employers about their documents or being unfairly targeted for extra checks by security or police based on their appearance
5 Who can I talk to if I feel Im being discriminated against
You can seek support from organisations like Refugee Action The Refugee Council or Citizens Advice They can provide advice and in some cases legal support for discrimination cases
AdvancedLevel Questions
6 How does government rhetoric and media coverage contribute to this feeling
When politicians and media outlets frequently use negative language linking immigration with crime or being a burden it shapes public opinion This creates a hostile environment where all immigrants including legal refugees are viewed with suspicion
7 What is the hostile environment policy and how does it affect refugees
This is a set of policies designed to make staying in the UK difficult for people without legal status However it often creates a system where everyone who looks or sounds foreign is forced to constantly prove their right to be here Legal refugees get caught in this net and feel the pressure and suspicion meant for others
