Why do people hate asylum seekers?
Because the media and politicians make them out to be some form of monster and that they are terrorists. They also say they are here illegally and jumping the migration queue. All of this is incorrect of course, as is the fear mongering. Asylum seekers via boat make up less than 1% of all migration into Australia, the majority being via airplane and usually those on other visa types such as student visas. Firstly under international law we are required to take them in, we did ratify the UN Charter for Refugees after all, also we have legal provision for them meaning they are not arriving here illegally. Also as there is no such thing as an immigration queue, each application being processed on merit and individually, there is nothing to jump. Yes there may be some criminal elements amongst the legitimate asylum seekers, however they are generally sorted out and sent back quickly. As the OP has correctly stated they are fleeing from persecution, and generally have no idea about conditio
For the most part it is the boat people that are “hated”. They spend thousands of dollars to not go to a country near them that hold the same religious beliefs, languages in some cases or culture – but travel to a country that they are treated (comparatively) like the rich were in their home country. While they may have legitimate claims – they are causing those people who have come from the same country as them, and who have applied properly – and who are not as rich as them, to wait years longer to be processed to come to Australia. They are queue jumping ahead of more needy people – that is why they are hated.
