You’re living overseas and enjoying life in a new country but then something happens in that country that changes everything. Not talking about war, but maybe a public debate, a new politician on the scene, a recession, or an election. Something that flipped how you see your new home. For better or worse.

For me, living in Malaysia all was going smoothly. An amazing country. But when COVID hit, non-Malaysians really became a target. You had vaccines prioritised for Malaysians and the government using the pandemic as an excuse to round up illegal migrants to deport them. Instilling more fear at a time of fear.

  • MungoJerrysBeard@alien.topOPBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Short answer? Yes, I would. Legal migrants in my home country have as much right to health care as I would, and other social benefits. That goes from schooling to free access to museums. Equals.

    Second point, I think if you’re trying to ensure a pandemic doesn’t spread, rounding up desperate people (who mostly flee persecution) to deport them, is going to make a bad situation worse. People will hide and won’t get vaccinated. Kinda obvious to me.

    • Awkward_Worth_2998@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Equals.

      So, how do you distribute limited supplies exactly?

      Second point, I think if you’re trying to ensure a pandemic doesn’t spread, rounding up desperate people (who mostly flee persecution) to deport them, is going to make a bad situation worse. People will hide and won’t get vaccinated. Kinda obvious to me

      As opposed to how all the criminals are usually out in the open, just going to government facilities and saying “I broke the law, vaccinate me”? Do you also think drug dealers shouldn’t be persecuted, because then they will hide their income and not pay taxes? Or do you think most criminals break the law for shits and giggles while only the illegal immigrants do it out of desperation?

      • MungoJerrysBeard@alien.topOPBEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        Limited supply of health care? Guess you judge which person needs the treatment most and judge it based on condition not passport. Also, there was a good supply of vaccines at this point. Final point, back then, there was a need to vaccinate all or it wouldn’t work as intended. You ignore sections of society - yes, even criminals - and you won’t achieve your pandemic goals.

        I’m not sure we’re comparing like for like on drug dealers and migrants brought in legally to work on construction sites, and when nobody is allowed outside during COVID, they have no work and no income, and they’re then rounded up when their visa runs out and are penniless. OR, desperate illegal migrants fleeing genocide in neighbouring countries, who were given safehaven pre-pandemic, but then pursued during.