Costanza de Toma is an Italian national, but has lived in the UK for 22 years. She works with a pressure group, the3million, to try to represent the interests of citizens affected by Brexit.
ADVERTISEMENTBritish Prime Minister, Theresa May has put a letter on Facebook, promising EU citizens in the UK that they can stay after Brexit. But it was met with uncertainty from people who believe that they are being used as pawns in a political game.
Costanza de Toma and her husband are Italian nationals and have lived in the UK for 22 years. She works with a pressure group, the3million, to try to represent the interests of citizens affected by Brexit. She spoke to us on Skype about the disappointment that she feels in the government’s continuing lack of priority for EU27 nationals in the UK
The letter goes on to talk about setting up a user group, whereby citizens will be able to influence the new systems. But Costanza is quick to point out that this is too little too late. Without speaking directly to those affected, the system will never be a success.
The biggest fears of the proposals come from the bureaucratic nature of the Home Office, and how people might be treated if that system is used to process EU nationals as well as worldwide immigration.
Costanza told us that if the process of obtaining settled status is too difficult for her and her family, they will be forced to move back to Italy, to a place which none of them considers to be home.
Her’s is just one of many similar stories from across the UK and Europe, from people who continue to hope for a positive outcome from the negotiations on their future.