A Journey from Home: The Heart-Wrenching Experience of a Refugee’s Path to the UK
Jess Hallett remarked pointedly, “If you’ve been there and feel no empathy, there’s likely a deeper issue at play.”
Once a vocal opponent of UK immigration, a transformative journey from Somalia to the UK altered Jess Hallett’s views. This journey recalibrated her perspective profoundly.
Originating from Llanelli, Jess was among six assertive Brits chosen for Channel 4’s compelling series, Go Back To Where You Came From. Traversing the perilous people smuggling routes, she experienced the dread of precarious boat crossings, the relentless heat of the African desert, and the daunting climbs over border fences.
“Were I in their situation,” Jess confessed, “I’d board the boat myself—there’s simply no life for the ones left behind.”
The shocking realities offline, as Jess noted, far surpass the often sanitized and detached portrayals found online.
Discussing her ordeal with BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Jess vividly recounted how profoundly the experience “shook her to the core,” reinforcing her belief in the inherent humanity within every person.
Imagine hearing stories of unfathomable hardship and realizing that people have “absolutely nothing. And I mean nothing,” she emphasized.
Beginning in the tumultuous cities of Mogadishu, Somalia, and Raqqa, Syria, the six Brits embarked on a journey immersed in environments that repeatedly challenged their steadfast beliefs.
Before departing, clips from the show captured a resolute Jess insisting: “My opinion is right; others will surely back me… why do we persist in allowing the boats in? We’re full.”
Yet, upon witnessing the desperation firsthand, Jess found the encounter transformative, altering her understanding of why so many risk their lives to make the perilous journey.
Initially disinterested in immigration issues, Jess admitted her ignorance until their impact penetrated her daily existence. A resident of Stradey Park Hotel’s grounds in Llanelli, she vociferously opposed accommodating 241 refugees there in June 2023, engaging in vehement protests.
This activism, she acknowledged, unfolded an unforeseen perspective. “Immersing myself in immigration issues revealed chaotic depths online, putting me in panic mode,” she shared.
The controversial proposal was shelved by October 2023, yet her stance was permanently transformed. “Seeing it in person,” she reiterated, “is worlds apart from online perceptions.”
Her blunt conclusion was strikingly human: “Any person of conscience visiting such places, lacking empathy? There’s an issue there.”
Amidst tightening citizenship regulations from the Home Office, which effectively bars refugees arriving illegally by boat from attaining British citizenship, Jess now passionately seeks cultural exchanges.
Recent months found her in Thailand, her worldview steadily expanding.
Deeply inspired by Somalian families who, with scant resources, eke out an existence, Jess shared an awe-inspiring scene: “Their resourcefulness is astounding—cutting meat with their toes! An eight-year-old girl taught me to cut. How they manage with nothing remains incredible.”
Reflecting on her journey, she expressed a simple yet powerful takeaway: “Regardless of origin, mutual respect is key.”
Go Back To Where You Came From airs Monday at 21:00 GMT on Channel 4. The full series is available for streaming on demand.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring
