We need new laws so that Windrush never happens again

Racism has always been used to divide and rule. Half a century of immigration laws in this country have reinforced this – Indian vs West Indian, African vs Australian, good (often white) migrants vs bad migrants.

The scandal that has come to light affecting the Windrush generation (thanks to Guardian journalist Amelia Gentleman) is appalling. We should support all those both directly and indirectly affected.

Unusually, on immigration, the public is on our side. But this is only the tip of the iceberg of poor Home Office decisions – “foreign national prisoners” facing double punishment of prison and deportation (even deport first, appeal later), bad treatment of children who have been born here and elderly dependent relatives (as one Home Office representative said, these are “low hanging fruit” – easy to round up and remove). And now the Home Office is saying it cannot deal with other cases on time because it is too busy clearing up its own mess over Windrush.

Yes, we want justice for this generation – legal aid now, compensation for all those threatened or removed. Yes, we want clear information for all those worried – our local law centre based in Moss Side is receiving dozens of inquiries from those in the community who don’t want to ring the Home Office for clarification in case the first response, as usual, is to refuse – and possibly remove. And most of all we want a political solution – not just calling for the home secretary to “do the honourable thing”. Who would she be replaced by?

It is nauseating to see Yvette “we deported more than you did” Cooper now calling out Amber “not me gov” Rudd. We need a new government committed to the repeal of the immigration laws which are inherently racist – why not start with the commitment to repeal the 1981 British Nationality Act and replace it with a citizenship law that does not discriminate against either women or black and Asian Britons, from a certain 1983 general election manifesto?

No one is illegal.

John Nicholson – Immigration Barrister and Chair, Greater Manchester Law Centre
Manchester

The government claims it is in the “national interest” to maintain migration controls that prevent sufficient doctors from India and elsewhere working in the NHS, a health service that desperately needs more doctors (“Fury as NHS recruits 100 doctors from India only for Home Office to deny them all visas”). It is an utterly bizarre claim.

What would not be bizarre would be to restrict such entrants on the grounds that India and elsewhere are perhaps in greater need of medical professionals than the UK. That raises concerns that go well beyond national “self-interest”, concerns, though, that are unlikely to register with a prime minister who disparages being “a citizen of the world” as nothing better than being “a citizen of nowhere”.

Peter Cave
London W1

Since its creation 65 years ago, the demilitarised zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea has become a refuge for wildlife; especially species endangered elsewhere like the Siberian tiger (the official animal of South Korea) and the black bear. With peace on the cards between the two countries, what better symbolic, permanent feature could there be than the creation of a UNESCO heritage site to preserve this natural gem? The inevitable roads and railways through the DMZ can be constructed with frequent underpasses to permit freedom of movement for animals.

Patrick Cosgrove
Bucknell

Swamps can be drained in several ways, subject to the intended outcome.

President Trump’s tactic so far, following his election promise, appears to favour inserting more alligators in the hope that this will drain the swamp naturally. What is not clear is what will happen to all these alligators once the swamp has dried out?

Brilliant tactic, yet an uncertain outcome?

Gunter Straub
London

I just returned from Venice after attending the commemoration of the liberation from the Nazis/Fascists and Saint Mark’s celebrations. Venice is a jewel in the Italian crown; it is the crossroads of cultures, civilisations and universal values. It is hard to visit the city and not become mesmerised by its narrow alleys, diversity, tolerance, dynamism, openness, hospitable people, cuisine, gelato, bridges, San Marco square, basilica and palaces.

It is important to safeguard this global heritage site against the rising sea levels. Venice holds the potential for sustainability and cooperation to remain a potent source of pride and cultural dialogue.

Dr Munjed Farid Al Qutob
London

Why has it taken so long to bring this sexual reprobate to justice? All those poor women who were victims of abuse deserved much better from the legal system. Notwithstanding that, Cosby and men like him who are currently under investigation have dealt real men a severe blow to men and women’s relationships.

I do hope that in future women who are victims of abuse have better access to counselling and justice. Additionally, they ought to be buoyed-up by the recent successes in prosecutions of these vile abusers.

Keith Poole
Basingstoke