Sherien Letsoalo and her husband arrived separately in the UK, and made individual asylum claims. Both their claims were rejected. Her husband was reporting weekly to the Home Office at Brand St, Glasgow, and in August 2005 was taken into detention, while she remains in Glasgow with their two infant childrean. The Home Office claims not to break up families.
I spoke briefly with Olusola, who told me “I am the husband of Sherien and father of the children. They [immigration] just abandon me. I am missing my children and am getting depressed. It’s like a prison. It is affecting me physically and mentally. I am on anti depressants, which I have never been on before. Thank you for listening to me."
Sherien studies business administration at Stow College, Glasgow.
Asylum seekers are allowed access to a range of opportunities, ranging from English studies through to a variety of HND courses. Sherien studied three years of a law degree before she left South Africa. The HND in business administration is the best on offer to her. Though she is grateful for the chance to study, she would rather have the opportunity to work:
‘In South Africa people work, to secure their children’s futures. But we are not allowed to do that here. Just sitting down, thinking of many things. Because the government does not allow us to work this leads to stress, as we think of what might happen to us in this country. If we worked, this would be different. It would take our minds off things. Also, this gives many British people the wrong idea that Asylum seekers are here for benefits, but in fact we are willing to contribute. Meanwhile this country needs workers. So we don’t understand the UK government, because if they think straight they can benefit from Asylum seekers. These people will give taxes, and work.’
