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Episode 1

Uncovering the reality of life for immigrants who come to Wales to build new lives. Following the stories of a Syrian refugee, a Portuguese economic migrant and a Newport-born man.

Strangers in a Strange Land uncovers the reality of life for immigrants who come to Wales to try and build new lives. They're much-talked about but rarely heard from. Aged just 21, Syrian refugee Bashar left his home, setting off on a perilous journey to come to Wales. In an attempt to escape the war in Syria, he took a desperate and dangerous journey across Europe to the UK, riding on the axle of a lorry. He's one of the lucky ones and has been given the right to stay for five years. But Bashar will need to find a way of making a living - speaking no English when he arrived, is he likely to succeed? In Merthyr, Carlos is a member of the town's Portuguese community. He left Portugal because of a downturn in the economy, but in Wales he now enjoys a better standard of living and is happy to do the jobs that he says others won't touch. With tougher border controls, some families face heartbreak - especially when children are separated from a parent. Newport-born Suhil fell in love with Risa on holiday in Pakistan. The couple married and within a year they had a baby called Umair and were hoping to settle in south Wales. However, for the moment they are separated because of immigration rules. Now a toddler, Umair is living with his dad in Newport while his mother is stuck in Pakistan. She's been refused a visa enter the UK twice. For three years, mother and child have been forced to live 4,000 miles apart. They are one of 15,000 so-called 'Skype families' whose only daily contact is via internet video calls.

30 minutes

Last on

Mon 26 Jun 2017 22:40

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Role Contributor
Producer Chris Rushton
Director Chris Rushton
Executive Producer Christina Macaulay

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