Two long-time UK residents, both women, are feeling the weight of potential racism due to Nigel Farage’s focus on migrants. Rosa Shanzala, a 38-year-old care worker from Zambia, has been tending to the elderly in a Welsh care home since July 2022 after becoming engaged to a Welsh man. Meanwhile, Nish, a 33-year-old youth worker and trafficking survivor from Mauritius, has made a life in the UK since the age of 14, raising her British-born daughter here.
Despite their contributions to British society, both women face the risk of deportation under Reform UK’s proposal to eliminate Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if the party wins elections. Rosa expresses distress over the potential impact, especially as she is building a life with her fiancé and deeply cares for her elderly charges, whom she considers like family.
Having recently secured ILR after nearly two decades in the UK, Nish, who endured financial strain to maintain her visa status, now fears losing her stability under Farage’s plan. This uncertainty weighs heavily on her, particularly concerning her daughter’s safety and their future in the only home they’ve known.
Both women stress the importance of recognizing the positive contributions migrants make to the country and urge against divisive actions that threaten their security and sense of belonging.