Migration

German news magazine, Der Spiegel, features the story of a 15-year unplanned migration of a different type. Navigating the treacherous waters of the Pacific in 1992, a container ship from Hong Kong bound for Tacoma, WA. lost some of its precious cargo: 29,000 rubber ducks, frogs and plastic turtles were dumped into the ocean. These “refugees” have since been travelling the world - two thirds drifted South and were found off the coasts of Australia, Indonesia and South America. Around 10,000 drifted north through the Bering Sea toward Alaska while a few made it all the way down to Maine and Massachusetts. Despite their odysee, the plastic critters could be linked to that orginal high sea spill - while the ducks found off of the coast of New England in 2000 were not as yellow as they once were, their production stamp clearly identified them as belonging to the original shipment.

In 2003, a number of ducks were spotted in Scotland, which leads Oceanographers to believe that the so-called “friendly floatees” will reach the English coast this summer. And it seems the toy manufacturer is taking a few tips from leading politicians on how best to repatriate migrants: he is offering a fifty pound reward for each plastic animal returned. These migrants will likely be greeted with open arms..

With the fate of many African migrants often being one of death from the failure of rickety boats used to move them towards the European coast, nervous smugglers ejecting their “clients” during the journey, or just a lack of action from receiving countries to save stranded migrants from drowning, there has been some recent progressive measures to reduce illegal immigration to Spain, or at least reduce the risk of those who will eventually make the journey.

Spain and Senegal signed and agreement to help combat illegal immigration until the 30th of June 2008 by working together in reducing the numbers of migrants fleeing Senegalese ports towards the Spanish Canary Islands. The agreement has paid dividends and as a result there has already been a reduction of boats from 901 in 2006, to only 101 in the first half of 2007.

Cooperation between Senegal and Spain has not been adopted solely via setting up common barriers. A number of Spanish businessmen have opted to go to Senegal directly and offer working visas to many of Senegal’s brightest young people who often have to use rickety boats and deal with organized mafia to get to Spain illegally. Often many of the young Senegalese do not survive the journey, or lose their money to unscrupulous individuals who leave them bankrupt with no way out of their country. Some of Spain’s entrepreneurs understand that many would come illegally and often are solely seeking employment to feed their families and make a better life. With institutional supports in Spain and opportunities to work, more than 500 Senegalese have taken the low risk option to come and work in Spain.

While the limited actions of the Spanish Government and businessmen are a very progressive approach towards addressing illegal immigration, an overall grand push in addressing the issue is needed. On the 25th of June 2007 the EU announced 380 million Euros in funding to assist migrant home countries in increasing security against illegal immigration. Similar to the cooperation agreement between Spain and Senegal, the EU will work on future frameworks to reduce illegal immigration from its source and curb unnecessary deaths for those economic migrants coming to the EU from Africa. While illegal migrations and deaths are certain to continue, there seems to be at least some small and ever growing efforts in addressing the immigration problems and rights of migrants coming to Spain and the EU.

On Tuesday, another attempt to bring the Senate Immigration Reform Bill into the crosshairs of American policymakers and bring the reform bill back to the Senate floor was created by President Bush and supporters of immigration reform in the United States. The general impression is that the bill will likely fail to be passed again, with objections to over two dozen amendments shadowing the lack of support and likely terminal end of the reform process, the opportunities in having the bill passed are few and far between.

The simple and overwhelming problem is that Americans just can’t agree on what to do with immigration reform. House Republicans have consistently opposed the reform bill, and the Democrats have clearly stated that without a certain level of Republican support, they will not support a failed bill.

Americans themselves are divided on the issue, with appx. 47% opposed to the bill and 30% supporting it in recent CNN polls, still it is shown that 45% of people still support friendly policies towards immigrants within any new legislation to be presented.

There are many reasons why immigration has become an issue in the US. An often neglected point of view on immigration was highlighted in the New York Times article: Anxiety in the land of the Anti-Immigration Crusader, where the author discusses why in one region of Colorado, with some of the lowest numbers of immigrants in the US has a unique concern over immigration. In the Colorado district the concern is twofold. One concern is that highly skilled workers are seen to be limiting well paying jobs for Americans under the H1B visa which allows for highly skilled and technical foreigners to come and work in the US. The other concern is China, which is seen as taking manufacturing jobs away from the northern regions of Mexico and creating a situation where Mexicans with no employment opportunities come to the US as an after-effect of Globalisation.

In the end, the debate is really a mix of having compassion, while upholding the law of the land and producing an immigration system where immigrants who are welcome are treated as “Americans” and are willing to become part of the American social fabric. The problem is that no one exactly knows how to make someone truly American, or even agree on what that entails. While upholding the laws to keep illegals out or at least in a regulated process is difficult, the idea of what it is to be truly American or European or part of any society is the great catalyst of debate in discussing Immigration in all countries.

The New York Times is reporting a wonderful story about a satirical column by Gustavo Arellano, which runs in the alternative Orange County, CA. newspaper. The friendly advice column Ask a Mexican! has dedicated itself to openly addressing stereotypes that often plague the relationship between the large Mexican immigrant population and the rest of the population. His column, which now appears in two dozen alternative weeklies and has just been turned into a book, has become a ‘hot topic’ accross the nation. Many feel that his satirical commentary reinforces stereotyping, while others are thankful for the humorous look at the problems that arise with increased immigration. While some in the Mexican community consider him to be a pariah, Arellano vows to soldier on, clarifying that Mexicans don’t call white people gringos - “only gringos call gringos gringos.”

Check out his weekly column here.

Much happened in migration related matters across the globe this week. Following the conservative victory in the parliamentary elections, the French president moved ahead on realizing his new restrictive immigration policies, while at the same time creating the most inclusive government in the country’s history. Elsewhere, US conservatives are stepping up the pressure to move ahead on the immigration bill, while the UK joins the chorus of European countries introducing measures to attract the most talented migrants to the country to fill existing skills gaps. This week’s news roundup also features two new pieces of analysis from the MPI and ECRE. Happy clicking:

• This week’s edition of the Economist features an article about Malta’s changing attitude towards migration and the start of Operation Nautilus II, designed to control the waters between Africa and European islands.
• We recently reported that France’s new government is moving swiftly to implement changes to existing institutional structures governing immigration affairs and changing legal requirements for family members looking to join migrants in the country. Well, not without a fair amount of opposition, as is the French tradition. Plans for a national ministry of immigration and national identity caused controversy during the Presidential campaign and drew protest from various groups. Now, the IHT reports a new petition has been published in the left-leaning newspaper Liberation. These types of protests will have little impact on M. Sarkozy’s plans, but are a part of the French democratic tradition.
• While he seems to be cracking down in his policies, M. Le President’s most recent cabinet reshuffle (following the parliamentary elections) produced the most inclusive government France has ever seen. In what is largely interpreted as a move to reconcile withe the minority groups he isolated throughout his campaign and his tenure as interior minister, Sarkozy has named three women (WOMEN!) of Northern African origin to his cabinet. Two new junior ministers now join the already appointed justice minister, Rachida Dati, around the president’s cabinet table.
• In the run-up to the presentation of Germany’s national plan for migrant integration on July 12, a number of federal states are publishing and promoting their individual approaches. On June 21st I attended a panel discussion hosted by the Koerber Foundation, which featured one of Berlin’s leading integration policy makers, Guenter Piening. He presented parts of the new program, which is available in full here (in German). The plan includes a number of functional changes that will facilitate access to basic social services, including full and equal access to education and the full integration of migrants into the work force - changes, which are long overdue. Monitoring and measuring the success of integration policies is another new element introduced in this updated plan. I will review Berlin’s approach in the context of Germany’s new  toward integrating migrants in a separate post. To understand the evolution of Berlin’s integration concept, Piening’s 2005  policy action plan (in English) is an interesting read.
• The Senate immigration bill is still one of the hottest topics on the Hill. On Thursday, Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff went on the record to oppose an amendment, which could make a new program to stop businesses from hiring illegal workers less burdensome. In a letter to Senators he said that taking such a decision “would be a serious step backwards in our enforcement effort.” This statement came as news broke that Federal agents had arrested 81 suspected illegal immigrants during a raid at a manufacturing plant in the Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania. The company said an agency that provided temporary workers was , the IHT reports. Mr. Chertoff, meanwhile, might have other recent worries: the ACLU is suing the Department of Homeland Security in the name of two migrants who say they were drugged by department officials to ease their deportation. Just days earlier and hoping to influence the Congressional debate on the immigration bill, the White House released a study citing the positive effects of immgrant labor on the nation’s economy. The New York Times has a full report.
• The first Muslim prayer site was opened on Friday in Athens, Greece since the end of the Ottoman Empire, the New York Times reports.
• We recently reported that German industrial organizations were pressuring the German government to ease up their requirements on admitting labor migrants into the economy. Britain seems to be interested in doing the same. Where only a mere three years ago, critics complained that the generous welfare system was attracting too many unwanted migrants, the Guardian is now reporting that immigration minister Liam Byrne is planning to launch an “an international marketing campaign designed to attract businesses and people with the right skills” - the global war for talent is on.
• On the reports and analysis front: the always prolific Migration Policy Insitute issued a new report coinciding with World Refugee Day entitled “Bridging Divides: The Role of Ethnic Community-Based
  Organizations in Refugee Integration” (pdf).   As the German EU Council Presidency comes to a close and the Portuguese government prepares to take over, the European Council on Refugees and Exiles has prepared a memorandum on EU asylum and refugee policy over the next six months.

Today marks the sixth annual World Refugee Day. Back in 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in solidarity with Africa, which hosted the greatest number of internally displaced people in the world. The Assembly decided that the first World Refugee Day should coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Thus, they designated June 20th, 2001 as the first day to actively commemorate, discuss and act on behalf of the tens of millions of men, women and children who have been forced to leave their homes because of ethnic warfare, military conflict, environmental hazards, sectarian infighting, political persecution and countless other reasons that make a return impossible.

<>Personally, I find commemorative occasions like these a little problematic, particularly given the current political situation with respect to refugees. All too often these type of occasions are misappropriated by politicians looking to divert the attention away from the issue at hand to their own political agenda - a time to make commitments, which are often quickly forgotten. The plight of Iraqi refugees is a case in point and we have reported on how many developed countries are either refusing to accept additional migrants from Iraq or are beginning to send them back into what is undoubtedly among the deadliest, bloodiest civil wars of recent history and one which will continue for years to come. In other parts of the world, refugees are held hostage to the political interests of a splinter terrorist group, as is currently the case in Lebanon. Across the Mediterranean, hundreds of African - many of them refugees - float adrift at sea without basic care while European governments haughtily debate political responsibilities. Both Europe and the United States are currently debating new immigration legislation focused on sealing off the borders of each country to unwanted migrants. As the UN High Commissioner for Refugees rightly warns, this cannot happen at the expense of the most needy, which turn to these countries for protection and shelter.

<>Nevertheless, these occasions do serve as a welcome opportunity for the media to turn its eye toward the plight of those living often for months and years in makeshift camps, dependent on the aid they receive from international relief agencies, such as the UNHCR. We have compiled a list of articles and informational material on World Refugee Day here and encourage you to share this information widely. The more people know about the difficulties these people face in deciding to leave their homes for an insecure, often perilous future will hopefully trigger some kind of action - a letter to your government, a donation toward the efforts of refugee relief agencies, a personal commitment to helping refugees through volunteer work - there are many ways to help the world to sit up, listen and take action.

<>Links:

CNN.com - Special Coverage of World Refugee Day
BBC: UN rallies world to help
ninemillion.org - UN refugee campaign, highlighting the story of young migrants
List of UNHCR special national events on World Refugee Day
Amnesty International - World Refugee Day
Refugees International - World Refugee Day
Africa’s Forgotten Refugees and Returnees - Refugees International Statement to the US Committee on Foreign Affairs
European Council for Refugees and Exiles
International Red Cross - Displaced persons website

Tomorrow is World Refugee Day and we will cover events commemorating the plight of refugees, the anguish, suffering and isolation they feel in abandoning their homelands, along with the efforts of the international community to ease their situations and raise awareness over the course of the day tomorrow. Our fellow FPA blogger, Cassandra Clifford, has already compiled a list of interesting links on this important occassion, which you can access here.

Nothing can, however, come close to hearing personal accounts of what it means to flee your own country in times of war. The UNHCR compiles these videos and after recent announcement by western governments that they will either refuse to accept additional Iraqi migrants or begin sending them back, this video is a particularly graphic reminder of why developed countries must go far beyond the requirements of the Geneva Convention to help, protect and shelter those in need.

The predicted landslide didn’t quite happen, but Nicolas Sarkozy is a happy man nonetheless. Despite his party’s losses in the second round of the parliamentary elections in France, Sarkozy has enough backing to push through his presidential agenda and quickly at that. The International Herald Tribune provided an update on just how quickly Monsieur Le President is moving ahead on his election promises with respect to immigration. Last week, when the campaign was still in full swing, Brice Hortefeux, the newly appointed minister for all things immigration watched the ink dry on a new legislative bill. The new law requires family members of resident migrants from outside the EU to learn French and gain an understanding for French values ahead of joining their own in France. The German government is floating a similar regulation with its recent decision on residence rights for migrants.

The bill will be one of the first up for debate in the newly elected parliament’s summer session. We will keep a close watch on these developments as they progress in the coming weeks.

German industrial associations are reporting a marked shortage of blue collar workers in certain sectors to keep up with rising demand. On June 8, Ludwig Gerhard Braun, President of the country’s Chambers of Industry and Commerce, went on the record to demand the economy open itself to qualified migrants as a part of a comprehensive initiative to address this newly arising gap.

The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile quotes one of the country’s leading economic research institutes, which estimates that the country is 48,000 missing engineers, whose absence last year cost Germany about €3.5 billion ($4.6 billion) in lost annual output.

This is somewhat of a watershed moment for Germany, as foreign labor has not been so in demand since the early ’50s and ’60s. Braun and fellow industrialists demand that politicians facilitate circumstances for highly-qualified migrants to enter the country. They also want to see the earnings threshold lowered: currently highly qualified migrants must prove that they make over 85,500 Euros a year.

The issue drives a wedge right down the center of the government coalition, but surprisingly the majority of Conservative ministers are in favor of a shift. Education minister, Annette Schavan, has promised a program to lower the wage requirements to 40,000 to 60,000 Euros to encourage highly educated migrants to either remain in Germany after finishing their degree programs or to attract the most talented engineers and scientists from the international labor market. Her conservative colleague and Economics minister, Michael Glos, has her back and his ministerial minions are currently preparing a similar analysis.

Just how far these two will get within their coalition government remains to be seen, however, as both the Social Democrat Employment Minister and Christian Democrat Interior Minister are less convinced that increased migration will offer the necessary quick fix the economy seemingly wants. German news weekly, der Spiegel, highlights that structural problems in the German labor market are part of the reason some highly skilled natives are sitting at home unemployed, while less and less German teenagers are attracted into blue collar jobs. The country is alos losing a lot of potential through the longstanding inadequacies in educating second and third generation migrants and preparing them adequatelz for the demands of the German labor market.

Thus, the solution - as always - lies somewhat in between. In a country that still boasts a 3.8 million unemployment figure, a decision to ‘open the doors to migrants’ looks likely to be met with the type of public outcry that has so often put a stop to comprehensive migration policies. At the same time, the effects of demographic change are already being felt in Europe’s most populous economy. The country needs a more flexible overall labor market that allows for the kind of rotating system currently being discussed at EU level. This system would allow highly-qualified migrants the chance to exit and enter the European labor market with greater ease. There is no reason why comprehensive strategies cannot be developed alongside one another - in fact, they must be, in order to respond to changing labor market needs. The education of young migrants must be part and parcel of this thought process much as creative solutions of encouraging the older generation to remain employed for longer, passing on their skills to the younger generation. Education and training must programs must be developed in line with micr- and macro-economic development. And above all, these plans need to be communicated early - to prevent and actively address concerns, because apart from any monetary incentives, migrants need to feel welcome, even if they don’t plan to stay forever.

This week’s news roundup covers the aftermath of the failed reforms US Immigration policy initiative as well as covering further developments on the tragedy of the missing migrants and the EU response to this new scandal. Also a story on possible inequalities in the UK immigration system for skilled migrants is included:

• The Financial Times discusses the perplexing political issues with both Democrats and Republicans over the lack of support for real reform of US Immigration Policy. FT states that in reality no one fully supported the new policy, or if they did support it, perhaps they did not think it would actually be successful. To see this interesting commentary see the link to the June 12th article here.
• The EU and the EU Commissioner for Migration, Franco Frattini are facing many questions regarding the death of 27 migrants who spent 3 days sitting in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea with no assistance from the EU (see last week’s Update). The responsibility and legal obligations of the EU and its member states to protect illegal migrants has become a very heated issue among member states, as some have more control over resources than others, while certain states like Spain and Malta absorb much of the burden in finding and protecting illegal migrants. For a further discussion see the Reuters article here.
• Immigration reforms in the UK since 2003 seek to qualify applicants for citizenship based on skills, age, education and previous earnings as opposed to family links. Recently there has been some controversy as retroactive rules which apply to skilled migrants who came before the programme are said to not comply with the UK’s race equality assessment measures which gave a failing grade to the new highly skilled migrants programme (HSMP) that has been in effect since 2003.  See the Guardian article here.