Your say / migrants
‘People are not problems, borders are not sacred and no one should be treated as disposable’
I didn’t just write this motion on migration and diversity —I lived it.
My father came to this city like so many others of his generation: with nothing but hope, grit and the determination to build a better life. He arrived in Bristol with no English, no savings, no safety net—just a belief that hard work and decency would be enough.
And he was right. He spent decades contributing to the life of this city: working long hours, paying taxes, raising a family and helping build the communities we live in today. Like thousands of others, he laid bricks, stacked shelves, ran shops, raised children and served neighbours. He may not have been born here, but make no mistake—he helped build Bristol.
is needed now More than ever
It’s because of that legacy, because of the very real experiences of my own family, that I’ve submitted a motion to full council titled: “A fairer and more humane approach to migration and diversity.”
Abdul Malik works closely with his local mosque
The motion is personal—but it’s also political.
Because today, I look around and see a rising tide of fear and suspicion aimed at migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. And I see a new Labour government making promises that echo the worst of the “hostile environment”: a new Border Security Command, fast-track removals, expanded detention powers. It feels like the same punitive politics, repackaged in a softer voice.
My motion stands in clear opposition to that approach. It reaffirms Bristol’s commitment as a city of sanctuary. It calls for safe and legal migration routes. It demands an end to the cruel ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ policy that leaves families destitute. It insists on the right to work—for those who want to contribute but are denied the chance.
And it goes further. It supports the findings of Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer, whose recent report on the UK’s border regime exposes just how dehumanising, expensive, and ineffective our immigration system has become.
Councillor Malik has set up a community shop in St Paul’s to address pressing issues within his ward
But beyond policy, this is about principle.
People are not problems. Borders are not sacred. And no one—no matter their origin—should be treated as disposable.
This motion may not be debated at this month’s council meeting. But it is included in the official papers, alongside another motion I’ve submitted on tackling Islamophobia. And that matters. Because even when we don’t get to speak in the chamber, our values are now on record.
I remember what my father taught me: Never forget where you came from. Never stop fighting for those still on the journey.
I haven’t forgotten. And I won’t stop.
This is an opinion piece by Abdul Malik, Green councillor for Ashely ward, that was first published on his Facebook page.
If you would like to write an opinion piece to be featured on the website, please send an email to ed-team@bristol247.com with your opinion piece idea and we will get back to you with instructions on the next steps.
All photos: Abdul Malik
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