Introduction: The Ever-Present Boogeyman of Immigration

Migration, the primal act of seeking a better life across borders, has shaped human civilization for centuries. From the transatlantic journeys of the 19th century to today’s debates over visas and borders, immigration remains one of the most polarizing and misunderstood phenomena in global politics. In the West—primarily the UK, USA, and Canada—immigration policies have often oscillated between moments of openness and periods of exclusion, shaped by economic needs, political ideologies, and racial anxieties.

For immigrants from Africa, India, and Asia, the experience of moving to these G7 nations is often layered with the unspoken expectation of gratitude. "We’re doing you a favor," the subtext reads. But is migration a favor? Or is it a calculated move based on labor needs and political convenience? Why does the rhetoric around immigration often vilify the very people it relies on? To understand the present, we must first unravel the historical fabric of migration policies, explore the ideologies driving these narratives, and examine the consequences of such policies for individuals and communities.

The Historical Roots of Immigration: A Brief Overview

Migration Before the 20th Century

Colonial Exploitation as Migration:

 The West’s relationship with migration is deeply tied to its colonial past. The transatlantic slave trade, for instance, forcibly moved millions of Africans to the Americas, creating a racial hierarchy that still lingers in immigration policies today. Meanwhile, indentured laborers from India and China were moved to colonies like the Caribbean and Southeast Asia under exploitative contracts. Migration was not a favor—it was exploitation.

- Industrialization and Labor Needs:

 The Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries saw European nations willingly accept migrants—Irish laborers building Britain’s canals, Italian workers helping to industrialize America—not out of altruism but out of necessity. Migration was always a transactional relationship.

Post-World War II Migration and the Windrush Era

- The Economic Imperative of Rebuilding Europe:

 After World War II, nations like the UK were left grappling with labor shortages. Britain turned to its colonies, inviting migrants from the Caribbean, India, and Africa to rebuild infrastructure. The Windrush generation, named after the ship that brought Caribbean migrants to the UK in 1948, became a cornerstone of Britain’s post-war recovery. However, this invitation came with unspoken racialized terms.

-Promises Made, Promises Broken:

 Despite their contributions, the Windrush generation faced systemic racism. Slogans like “No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish” were etched into the social fabric of post-war Britain. By the 2010s, the Windrush scandal revealed how the UK government deported elderly Black Britons under the pretense that they lacked proper documentation—a stark betrayal of those who helped rebuild the nation.

Immigration as a Political-Economic Weapon

The Boogeyman Narrative

- From Windrush to "Skilled Workers":

 The care worker and skilled worker visas of today are reminiscent of the Windrush era. The West selectively invites migrants during periods of labor shortages but often discards them—or scapegoats them—once their utility diminishes. The narrative of immigrants as economic contributors is frequently replaced by the image of immigrants as societal burdens.

- The Role of Politicians:

 Figures like Donald Trump in the USA and Kemi Badenoch in the UK have weaponized immigration rhetoric to appeal to nationalist sentiments. Trump’s strict immigration policies and his infamous "build the wall" slogan painted immigrants as threats to American jobs and security. Similarly, Badenoch’s speeches often frame immigration in transactional terms, subtly reinforcing the idea that migrants owe their existence in the UK to British generosity.

 The "Open the Borders, Close Them Tight" Cycle

- Economic Pragmatism vs. Political Expedience:

 Immigration policies in the West often mirror economic cycles. During periods of economic growth, borders are loosened, and visas are handed out generously. But when recessions hit or political backlash mounts, borders are tightened, and migrants are vilified. This cyclical approach reduces human lives to mere economic variables.

-The Racialization of Immigration:

 Policies often disproportionately target non-White migrants. The UK’s hostile environment policy, Canada’s changing immigration patterns, and the USA’s Muslim travel ban under Trump all highlight how race and religion are often the unspoken factors in immigration debates.

-The Ideologies Behind Immigration Policies

Historical Parallels: Slave Trade and Labor Migration

- Exploitation Redux:

 There are undeniable parallels between the transatlantic slave trade and modern-day labor migration. Both systems rely on the movement of non-White bodies to sustain Western economies, often under exploitative conditions. The only difference is the veneer of legality attached to today’s visas.

- Racial Hierarchies in Policy:

 Immigration policies often reflect the racial hierarchies established during the colonial era. Migrants from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean are more likely to face scrutiny and discrimination than those from Europe or other predominantly White nations.

Immigration as a Tool for Political Control

-Shaping National Identity:

 Immigration policies are often used to define who belongs to a nation. The UK’s Brexit campaign, for instance, was rooted in anti-immigration rhetoric that appealed to a sense of British identity under threat. Similarly, Trump’s policies sought to reinforce a vision of America as a predominantly White, Christian nation.

The Economic Argument:

 Politicians often frame immigration as either a boon or a burden to the economy, depending on their agenda. However, this framing ignores the structural inequalities that force migrants into low-paying, precarious jobs while depriving them of equal rights and protections

Lessons for African, Indian, and Asian Immigrants

Understanding the System

- Historical Awareness:

 Immigrants need to understand the historical context of migration policies. The experiences of the Windrush generation and other migrant communities reveal how quickly gratitude can turn into hostility.

-Economic Contributions Are Not Enough: 

 Being a taxpaying, contributing member of society does not guarantee acceptance or respect. Migrants must recognize that their presence in these countries is often tolerated rather than celebrated.

Building Collective Power

- Community Solidarity:

 Immigrant communities must unite to demand fair treatment and equal rights. Divisions based on nationality, religion, or class only serve to weaken their collective bargaining power.

- Advocacy and Representation:

 Immigrants must actively participate in the political process, advocating for policies that protect their rights and challenging narratives that vilify them.

What Nigerians Should Know and Expect

The Japa Phenomenon in Historical Context 

The Illusion of Reward: Skilled Worker, Student, and Care Worker Visas

The Nigerian "Japa" phenomenon—where thousands of Nigerians migrate abroad seeking greener pastures—has become a defining feature of the past decade. The term itself, taken from Yoruba slang meaning "to run or flee," captures both the desperation and determination of a people seeking escape from a system that offers little in return for their hard work and aspirations. But while many Nigerians view visas like the UK Skilled Worker Visa, Student Visas, and Care Worker Visas as opportunities earned through merit, the reality is far less flattering. 

These immigration pathways are not rewards for individual excellence but tools leveraged by Western nations to satisfy their economic and labor demands. The shiny veneer of these visas hides a transactional arrangement that prioritizes the needs of the host countries over the aspirations of the migrants. Let’s break this down further:

The UK Skilled Worker Visa: Not a Merit Badge

Many Nigerians who secure the UK Skilled Worker Visa believe it is a testament to their education, skills, and hard work. After all, the application process involves proving professional qualifications, passing rigorous tests, and sometimes securing sponsorship from an employer. However, the deeper truth is that this visa category exists not to reward individual brilliance but to fill critical gaps in the UK labor market. 

- A Labor Crisis, Not a Compliment:

 The Skilled Worker Visa emerged as the UK faced growing shortages in sectors like healthcare, IT, and engineering. Brexit, an aging population, and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these shortages, creating an urgent need for foreign labor. Nigerians and other skilled workers from the Global South were not courted for their brilliance but for their ability to plug these gaps at a fraction of the cost of training local workers.

-The Low-Humanity Value of Skilled Labor: 

 In truth, the "skilled" label is relative. Fields like healthcare—where many Nigerians thrive as nurses or allied health professionals—are often undervalued in the UK. These workers are essential but poorly compensated relative to their contribution. They are also overworked, with many filling roles that British citizens avoid due to the demanding nature of the jobs and the relatively low pay. The unspoken message here is clear: "You’re not here because you’re exceptional, but because we need cheap and reliable labor to keep the system running."

The Student Visa: A Cash Cow for Foreign Institutionns

The myth of the student visa as a reward for academic brilliance is even more pervasive. For many Nigerians, studying abroad is seen as the ultimate validation of educational success—a chance to earn a prestigious foreign degree and secure access to better job opportunities. But again, the reality is that student visas are primarily economic tools for the host countries, designed to generate revenue rather than reward intellect.

- Foreign Degrees as Commodities:

 Western countries like the UK, Canada, and the USA have turned their higher education systems into lucrative businesses. International students pay exorbitant tuition fees—often double or triple the rates charged to domestic students. In the UK, Nigerian students contributed over **£1.9 billion** to the economy in tuition fees and living expenses in 2021 alone. For universities, these students are not scholars—they are customers.

- The Nigerian Obsession with Foreign Degrees: 

 This economic exploitation is fueled by Nigerians’ high regard for foreign qualifications. Decades of underfunded and mismanaged educational institutions in Nigeria have made local degrees seem inferior, even when they are not. As a result, many Nigerians are willing to pay enormous sums to study abroad, often in institutions with questionable academic standards. The proliferation of "degree mills" targeting international students is a testament to how the system prioritizes profit over quality education.

- A False Promise of Opportunity:

 Many Nigerian students abroad discover that their foreign degree does not guarantee the white-collar jobs they envisioned. Instead, they are often funneled into low-paying jobs to sustain themselves, perpetuating a cycle where they become economic tools rather than beneficiaries of the system. The "reward" of a student visa, therefore, is less about intellectual merit and more about the financial benefit to the host nation.

The Care Worker Visa: A Testament to Devaluation

Perhaps the most glaring example of how Western immigration policies exploit Nigerian labor is the Care Worker Visa. This visa pathway has seen a surge in recent years, with Nigerians leaving en masse to work in the UK healthcare and social care sectors. But while some view this as an opportunity, it is a stark reminder of how the West values migrant labor—primarily for low-paying, high-strain jobs that locals are unwilling to do.

- The Care Worker Visa Boom: 

 The UK recently added care workers to its shortage occupation list, making it easier for foreign workers to secure visas in this field. This move was not born out of benevolence but out of desperation. The care sector in the UK has long been plagued by low wages, poor working conditions, and high turnover rates. By opening the floodgates to foreign workers, the UK government ensures these roles are filled without addressing the systemic issues driving local workers away.

- The Dehumanization of Care Work:

 Care work, despite being emotionally and physically demanding, is among the least respected professions in the UK. Migrants who take up these roles are often seen as disposable labor rather than valued contributors. The low wages and lack of upward mobility in this field reinforce the idea that care workers are only as valuable as the services they provide—not as individuals with dreams, skills, and ambitions.

-A Reflection of Low Worth: 

 For many Nigerians on the Care Worker Visa, the message is clear: your value lies in your ability to perform menial tasks that others avoid. This stands in stark contrast to the aspirations of many migrants, who envision a life of dignity and upward mobility but find themselves trapped in roles that offer neither.

The Bigger Picture: Exploitation Disguised as Opportunity

Across all these visa categories—Skilled Worker, Student, and Care Worker—the underlying theme is the same: Western nations view migrants from Nigeria and other Global South countries as tools to meet their economic needs, not as individuals deserving of respect or recognition. These visas are not rewards for hard work, intelligence, or perseverance; they are transactional arrangements designed to extract maximum value from migrants while offering minimal returns.

- A Historical Continuum:

 This pattern is not new. From the exploitation of Caribbean migrants in the Windrush era to the indentured laborers brought to colonial plantations, Western nations have always sought to extract labor from non-White populations under the guise of opportunity. Today’s visas are merely the latest iteration of this exploitative system.

- The Emotional Toll:

 For many Nigerians, the realization that their visas do not grant them the respect or opportunities they envisioned can be devastating. The dissonance between their perceived self-worth and how they are treated abroad often leads to frustration, disillusionment, and a sense of betrayal.

 Understanding the Transaction

The Japa phenomenon, while rooted in legitimate aspirations for a better life, must be understood within its historical and systemic context. Skilled Worker Visas, Student Visas, and Care Worker Visas are not badges of honor—they are instruments of economic exploitation. Nigerians must recognize this reality and approach migration with a clear-eyed understanding of the challenges and limitations they will face.

By shedding the illusion of "reward," migrants can begin to navigate these systems with greater awareness and advocate for fairer treatment. After all, migration should not just be about fulfilling the needs of host nations—it should be about creating opportunities for dignity, growth, and mutual respect. Without this shift in perspective, the cycle of exploitation will continue, leaving future generations of migrants caught in the same trap.

Preparing for the Future

- Nigerians must prepare for the possibility that today’s welcome may turn into tomorrow’s hostility. The Windrush scandal serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting how quickly the narrative around migrants can shift.

Learning from History

- By studying the experiences of other migrant communities, Nigerians can better navigate the challenges of living and working abroad. Awareness and advocacy are key to ensuring that history does not repeat itself.

Conclusion: Toward a More Just Narrative

Immigration is not a favor, nor is it a threat. It is a fundamental aspect of human existence, driven by the universal desire for a better life. The West’s immigration policies, however, often reduce migrants to mere tools—welcomed when needed, discarded when inconvenient. By understanding the historical and ideological roots of these policies, migrants can better advocate for their rights and challenge the narratives that seek to dehumanize them.

As we reflect on the lessons of history, let us remember that migration is not just about borders or visas—it is about people, dreams, and the enduring pursuit of dignity.

St. Martins