Migrants Are Not a Burden — They Are a Blessing
Migrants are not a threat to the United Kingdom — they are a blessing. Every day, migrants enrich our society through their work, culture, compassion, and dedication. They are not distant “others” — they are our neighbours, our NHS workers, our carers, our colleagues, our children’s classmates, and members of our churches and communities.
The Migration Observatory at Oxford University confirms that many migrants make a net positive contribution to the UK economy — paying more in taxes than they receive in public services (Migration Observatory, 2024). In the NHS, migrants are not just contributors — they are essential. Nearly one in five NHS workers is from overseas, and many departments would simply not function without them (Migration Observatory, 2023).
As Christians, we understand deeply that our call is not driven by fear, but by faith. Scripture reminds us that “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18) — and that “you shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31). This is the heart of our campaign.
The Truth About Migrants and the NHS
The British Medical Association confirms that migrants do not disproportionately rely on NHS services — in fact, many use fewer health resources than UK-born citizens, especially when they first arrive (BMA, 2025). Meanwhile, they are among the key providers of that very care, filling critical shortages in hospitals and care homes.
The Financial Times reports that skilled migrants contribute more to public finances than the average UK-born worker — helping fund the NHS, not burden it (Financial Times, 2024).
If legal migrants were to be stripped of their rights or suddenly deported — waiting lists would grow, vital services would collapse under pressure, and the system would weaken dramatically.
Why Love Must Be Louder Than Fear
Yet there are political movements now threatening to remove indefinite leave to remain, creating deep fear among families who have lived, worked, paid taxes, raised children — and called the UK their home for many years.
We have seen what happens when fear is allowed to rule. In the United States, sudden policy changes under former President Trump led to family separations, deportations, and the disappearance of legal protections almost overnight (BBC News, 2025; Human Rights First, 2025; The Guardian, 2025). We must not repeat this mistake in the UK.
Fear divides.
Faith unites.
Hostility destroys.
Hospitality heals.
Hate tears communities apart.
Love holds them together.
References:
BMA (2025) Unique health challenges for refugees & asylum seekers. Available at: https://www.bma.org.uk (Accessed: 18 October 2025).
Financial Times (2024) Skilled migrants contribute more to public finances than working Britons. Available at: https://www.ft.com (Accessed: 18 October 2025).
Migration Observatory (2023) Migration and the health and care workforce. University of Oxford. Available at: https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk (Accessed: 18 October 2025).
Migration Observatory (2024) The Fiscal Impact of Immigration in the UK. University of Oxford. Available at: https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk (Accessed: 18 October 2025).
BBC News (2025) Who has been arrested by ICE under Trump?. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk (Accessed: 18 October 2025).
Human Rights First (2025) The Trump administration is forcibly disappearing migrants. Available at: https://humanrightsfirst.org (Accessed: 18 October 2025).
The Guardian (2025) Most migrants detained by ICE have no criminal record. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com (Accessed: 18 October 2025).
