When Shamsullah Sadey, 19, fled Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and arrived in Australia with his family in 2024, he brought with him dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon.
But the high school student is feeling increasingly “uncertain” about his future. He says the recent debate about migration means for “the first time I’ve genuinely felt unwelcome” in Australia.
That feeling is common among migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who tell Guardian Australia they’re anxious and fear being excluded as the major political parties compete on policies to reduce net overseas migration (Nom).
“It’s quite disheartening. Behind every migration number is a person and a family and a story. Australia can have a well-managed migration system while also treating migrants and refugees with dignity,” he says.
“Australia has given me more than enough. I hope Australia remains a place where young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds can feel that they belong and have a future. I just hope that we don’t lose sight of the human side of migration.”