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As part of a recent interview observing his first 100 days in office, the Windrush commissioner expressed concern that UK's Black population are raising concerns about whether the United Kingdom is "going backwards."

Increasing Worries About Immigration Debate

Commissioner Clive Foster stated that Windrush generation victims are asking themselves if "history is repeating itself" as UK politicians focus attention on lawful immigrants.

"I don't want to be part of a country where I'm made to feel I don't belong," he emphasized.

Widespread Consultation

After taking his position in mid-year, the commissioner has consulted approximately 700 survivors during a nationwide visit throughout the country.

Recently, the interior ministry revealed it had accepted a range of his proposals for improving the underperforming Windrush payment program.

Request for Evaluation

He's currently advocating for "comprehensive evaluation" of any planned alterations to border regulations to ensure there is "a clear understanding of the human impact."

The commissioner indicated that new laws may be required to ensure no future government abandoned promises made in the wake of the Windrush controversy.

Background Information

In the Windrush scandal, Commonwealth Britons who had come to the UK legally as British nationals were wrongly classed as undocumented immigrants years later.

Showing similarities with language from the seventies, the UK's migration debate reached a new concerning level when a Conservative politician allegedly stated that legal migrants should "go home."

Public Worries

Foster explained that individuals have telling him how they are "afraid, they feel insecure, that with the ongoing discussion, they feel less secure."

"I think people are additionally worried that the hard-fought commitments around integration and belonging in this country are going to get lost," Foster stated.

Foster shared receiving comments express concerns about "might this represent the past recurring? This is the sort of discourse I was experiencing in previous times."

Restitution Upgrades

Part of the recent changes announced by the Home Office, survivors will obtain three-quarters of their restitution sum before final processing.

Furthermore, applicants will be reimbursed for lost contributions to individual savings plans for the first time.

Future Focus

He highlighted that a single beneficial result from the Windrush scandal has been "more dialogue and knowledge" of the World War era and after UK Black experience.

"Our community refuses to be characterized by a scandal," the commissioner stated. "The reason is people come forward showing their achievements proudly and say, 'look, this is the contribution that I have provided'."

Foster concluded by observing that the community seeks to be recognized for their self-respect and what they've contributed to the nation.