Migration

In this weeks Weekly Roundup we take a look at the US Presidential Campaign and political attacks by Romney against Giuliani’s immigration record, the National Guard situation at the US border as well as Remittances to Mexico and Census changes in the US and problems with the immigration laws in the UK:

• In one of the strongest conflicts yet between Republican presidential front-runners, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney attacked rival Rudy Giuliani Wednesday, implying that Giuliani supported illegal immigration when he was mayor of New York. See the story here.
• NBC Reports There Are “Fewer Than 1,000″ National Guard Troops Along The Border. NBC’s HODA KOTBE: “Well back here on the ground, there are reports of a snag in the President’s border patrol plan. Instead of growing to 6,000 National Guard troops along the border, there are fewer than 1,000, with many states reluctant to send more. See the story here.
• Legal restrictions targeting illegal immigrants have contributed to a sharp fall-off in the remittances sent to Mexico from a number of US states, according to a survey published yesterday. Remittances are one of Mexico’s largest imports of funds into the country. See the story here.
• The government’s proposed changes to immigration rules for skilled migrant workers are unfair and break human rights law, a parliamentary committee said on Thursday. See the story here.
• As of 2006, non-Hispanic whites made up less than half the population in 303 of the nationals 3,141 counties, according to figures the Census Bureau is releasing Thursday. Non-Hispanic whites were a minority in 262 counties in 2000, up from 183 in 1990. See the story here and here.

This week’s news takes a look at the situation in the small country of Moldova where a majority of its workers abroad are illegal, examines the further developments in the shooting of the Brazilian man during the chaos of the London Bombings and the resulting inquiry into his death and focuses on Libya’s human rights record and deaths on the US border. We also take a look at Australia’s further integration issues and a record breaking number of African Migrants reaching the Canary Islands of Spain this past week :

• IMF forecasts that Moldova will be the world leader for the amount of money sent home by migrants in 2008. Most of the Moldovan workers abroad are illegal immigrants. See the story here.
• London police misled public after accidental shooting, panel finds a top official failed to inform the commissioner of the victim’s identity, thus allowing erroneous reports to be perpetuated in the media. The Brazilian national was killed by London police during the anarchy of the London Bombing, but inquiries found that errors by the London police were skewed and subsequently covered up in the aftermath of the situation. See the story here.
• Libya is set to take charge of a UN anti-racism committee in a move condemned by human rights groups who say the north African country’s rights record disqualifies it from the post. Libya takes over on the heels of torture allegations put forward by foreign medics recently released from the country. See the story here.
• The number of illegal immigrants who have died trying to get into the United States is higher than ever this summer. According to USAToday, many migrants have not been able to survive the harsh conditions of the deserts between the US and Mexico and often perish during the journey. Resaons for this are discussed in the article. See the story here.
• In a report by CNN, The body of a Cuban-American, Luis Lazaro Lara Morejon who was under investigation in a migrant smuggling case was found riddled with bullets along a road outside the Caribbean resort of Cancun, authorities said Tuesday. See the story here.
• A new test for Migrants to Australia is to be created according to the Sydney Morning Herald. People who are seeking to immigrate will face stricter scrutiny of their ability to integrate into Australian society, the Minister for Immigration, Kevin Andrews said this past week. See the story here.
• A record-breaking 180 African immigrants reached the Canary Islands in a single ocean-going canoe on Monday as new super-sized vessels began to be used in the perilous journey from Africa’s Atlantic coast. The 180 sub-Saharan Africans were picked up by a Spanish maritime rescue vessel off the island of Tenerife. See the story here. 

In the August 1st telecast of the BBC World Service the BBC did an investigative report on a new trend in London where Polish women were taking payments for marrying non-EU citizens so they could remain and gain legal status in London. The report went into great detail to present the problem, going as far as sending a reporter under cover as someone looking to marry an EU citizen to gain status in London and filming the “brokers” of these marriages in the process.

After the accession of new EU member states such as Poland, the UK was the first country to fully liberalise its economy in letting in foreign workers within the EU rules without any restrictions or time limits past the date of accession of new member states. For that reason, London absorbed many Eastern European workers who often drifted into both blue collar jobs as well as many professionals who were “brain-drained” out of countries such as Poland towards the UK and London. Today it is not uncommon to see few traditional brits working the shops and restaurants of London as many labour jobs have been taken by Immigrants and EU-citizens alike.

While marrying for papers was not uncommon before the accession of the new EU member states, an added fear that in some new communities there could be an outbreak of false marriages is an understandable concern. While the report did not give actual numbers of marriages in the Polish community or any others under false pretenses, their primary research well illustrated the problem. Despite this, I do not believe that it is an issue in one community in London only, but is a general issue that existed well before Polish citizens became part of the EU. Please search the BBC World site above for further information…

This week’s collection of articles features the apparent failure of an international meeting to address the refugee crisis in Iraq and surrounding countries, and new measures by the Australian federal and state governments to facilitate employment for migrant workers. The positive impact that citizenship can have on integration rounds out this week’s look at the most important stories on the global movement of people.

• Politicians, administrators and experts from Syria, Egypt, the Arab League and United Nations relief organizations, as well as representatives of the United States, the European Union, Turkey, Iran, Russia and Japan attending as observers met in Amman, Jordan this week to discuss how best to address the needs of Iraqi refugees. Attendants expressed frustration at what seems to have been little more than a talking shop, as the New York Times reports. While the focus should have been the development of an economic, security and infrastructural strategy for dealing with the refugees, aid was the central focus of most of the discussions. The conference came just two days after Amnesty International had warned that the Iraqi refugee situation was nearing a breaking point. More than two million Iraqis have now fled the sectarian violence raging in their country and almost two million others are internally displaced. A humanitarian crisis of unforeseen dimensions looms, if immediate action isn’t taken, the organization warns - and conferences like Friday’s meeting in Amman are clearly insufficient to address the pressing situation. Amnesty calls on both the Iraqi government to live up to its promised aid payments but also demands Western governments offer generous resettlement packages. We have covered the tenuous situation of Iraqi refugees in a number of blogs in the past, particularly the reluctance of many EU governments to accept additional displaced Iraqis fleeing the insecure situation in their homeland.
• In a related story in the same paper, US officials have admitted they are not acting fast enough in issuing visas to Iraqi refugees.
• The US State of Georgia has introduced some of the harshest legislation against illegal immigrants in the nation. Its full effect is only now becoming clear. Local police officers and sheriffs have essentially been given the right to decide the deportation of illegal migrants and can run immigration status checks even in routine measures, such as traffic controls. A recent case reported in the LA Times proves just how this new legislation could increase the vulnerability of those that already live without legal protection.
• Newsday columnist Sheryl McCarthy criticizes the exploitation many migrant workers are subject to in lower-than minimum wage jobs in New York and all across the country in her weekend commentary.
• The Australian government looks set to invest into new measures to help businesses provide English language education on the job. The Western Australian newspaper is also reporting that the state labor government will invest AUS $50 million towards a major revamp of the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), which is essentially the ticket to legal residence and eventual citizenship in Australia. In related news, a new study by  the University of New England’s (UNE) Centre for Applied Research in Social Sciences has revealed that migrants are better educated, more law-abiding, are generally healthier and less dependent on welfare than the average Australian-born citizen. Now that is some food for thought…
•  The St. Pete Times from Florida offers a glimpse into the difficult situation many migrant families face, when the parents are undocumented migrants but the children are US nationals. What happens to the children, when the parents are jailed or deported? The legal situation is still unclear and decisions generally made on a case-by-case basis.
• And finally an inspiring story from the New York Times on the role citizenship can have on integrating even the oldest of migrants.

This week’s news is short, but nonetheless important:

• Again, tragedy has struck on the high seas - this time off the Canary Islands: Spanish authorities have called off the search for the 50 migrants lost at sea after their boat capsized late last week. More than forty were rescued, however. The IHT has the story here.
• The International Organization for Migration is working closely with the Senegalese government to prevent migrants from falling prey to smugglers and face a similar fate as the Gambian migrants off the coast of the Canary Islands. Voice of America reports that the campaign aims to inform potential migrants of legal methods of migration. The IOM press release can be found here.
• A similar anti-trafficking campaign geared towards the Dominican Republic features Ricky Martin. He has agreed to shake his bon-bon, to promote a free information hotline and other promotional efforts.
• The Financial Times has published a new series on how Asian countries are dealing with the challenges that arise from their new status as migrant destination countries (requires a free 15-day trial of the FTonline).

 In a few underreported incidents, last Thursday a migrant boat with 20 aboard disappeared in the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily on its way to Europe. Last Wednesday, 23 migrants were also picked up by Italian coastguards found clinging to a tuna cage near Sicily. Numerous other migrants were picked up as well last week from various boats. It was reported that 35 people had drowned since the beginning of the month of June in between Libya, Malta and Sicily.

The incidents of boat people are seen as an ever-growing cause of concern in the Mediterranean and worldwide as noted by the UNHCR. Beyond drowning, often migrants are killed or thrown into the sea on purpose by smugglers, which add an ever more dangerous element to the fate of asylum seekers, refugees and economic migrants trying to flee Africa and other regions towards opportunity in other nations. On July 3rd the IMO and UNHCR met in London to address the issue.

With the new EU Presidency of Portugal coming soon to shape the future of EU policy, Lisbon has stated publicly that there needs to be some real action in addressing illegal immigration. With countries like Spain, Portugal, Malta and Italy having to deal with the majority of boat people, the victims, security and ensuring their human rights are met; Portugal challenged the EU to seek a real combined effort in addressing the issue. Many in Southern Europe feel that leaving the problems to be dealt solely by Mediterranean countries where most of the migrants enter the entire EU by sea requires an EU approach and not solely a national effort.

Despite protests from Portugal, the issue of illegal migration is still intertwined with political challenges and administrative red tape in addressing the issue via the EU. With the Portuguese Presidency of the EU and UN now refocusing on the issue, there is some hope that progress will be possible in the near future.

For Other Sea and Migrant Stories:

FPA Migration Middle East and Africa
FPA Migration Europe

The failure of Immigration reform in the US marked a special occasion in recent US political history where both parties have come to complete consensus over an issue, and have decided that NO ONE can agree on anything when it comes to reforming the unworkable immigration laws in the United States. The plan was finally put to rest when members of both the Democrats and Republicans could not come to any consensus in reforming the key issues tied in with immigration last week. The main points of disagreement among US politicians were debates over border security, what to do with the approximately 12 million illegal immigrants in the US, and allowing a new process for foreign workers to be able to work legally in the US. Addressing these three main issue were considered by many as asking too much too soon in altering current US immigration policy.

The effect on the Bush Administration disallows any attempt to improve domestic support and his overall reputation before he leaves office. Many political experts see immigration as a dead issue until 2009, when a new President can adopt the issue to gain their own support and leave the Bush legacy with only Iraq and scandals as its main points of historical debate. It remains to be seen how future candidates will address immigration, if at all in the upcoming US elections.

The real losers however are immigrants and Americans themselves. In the June 30th article by the New York Times: Immigrants Work On as Bill Dies and Views Divide, news of the failed reforms met some concerned groups with quiet mediocrity while others were happy to know that they may still have a good chance to make it to America without increased border security hindering their chances. Workers currently in the US, like Ediberto Perez reacted by saying: “Well, I am just going to keep working, What more can I do?” Also spoken about in the New York Times article was Mr. Brito, who thought him and his companions would never gain legal status. He has his wife and four children living in Mexico and while said he would love to become legal, it would not stop him from working at any job he can find.

Criticisms of the continuation of the labour situation in the US have met criticism from across the border in Mexico. Mexican President Felipe Calderon called the Senate’s decision a “grave error” and a failure to find a “sensible, rational, legal solution to the migration problem.” Jorge Bustamente of the UN human rights commission for migrants criticized the lack of reform measures by stating, “It means the continuation and probably a worsening of the migrants’ vulnerable conditions.” Mexican newspaper El Universal also commented on the failure of the immigration reform by stating that while American politicians want labour, they are unwilling to legalise the labour they require.

While delaying approaching the immigration issue until 2009 may not solve any current problems, it is evident that there is still a severe lack of consensus in dealing with immigration in the United States. While agreeing to disagree is the result of this latest round of immigration issues across America and beyond its borders into Mexico and abroad, everyone concerned must deal with its political paralysis for the time being.

The US Senate’s failure to move the compromise bill on immigration reform forward has dominated headlines over the past few days. Meanwhile, the election of the first black mayor in Ireland is being heralded as a success of that country’s integration policies. As Portugal takes over the rotating EU Council Presidency from Germany for the next six months, the European Council of Refugees and Exiles highlights a number of priorities, including the creation of a pan-European asylum system.

• The Economist summarizes the proposed US immigration bill and the political arguments that ultimately led to its failure.
• Randal Archibold of the NYT visited US migrants as the news broke to gather their impressions. His five-page article vividly proves why the current legal situation is unsatisfactory, and endangers the lives and livelihoods of many thousands of migrants living, working and contributing to the US economy in all 50 States today.
• The first black mayor in Ireland is heralding his election as a proof of how well European societies can adapt to rapid flows of migration, the Guardian reports. Rotimi Adebari, who arrived in Ireland as an asylum seeker seven years ago and had difficulties finding employment in the first few years, was elected mayor ofPortlaoise, backed by established parties, including Fine Gael and Sinn Féin councilors.
•  Another migrant vessel sank between Libya and Malta this weekend, killing at least 20 would-be immigrants. German newspaper, the Frankfurter Rundschau, is reporting that the Italian government has reacted and presented a new immigration law to curtail immigration but de-criminalize the attempt to land on Italian shore. Romano Prodi’s coalition government is also proposing to get rid of the obligatory language test introduced by the previous conservative government under Silvio Berlusconi. Instead, the new law introduces the concept of “sponsors” which commit themselves to guaranteeing a job or financial support to allow a new migrant legal status. In addition, the government wants to end the mandatory detention of illegal immigrants. Only violent or uncooperative migrants are to be detained in the future and financial aid offered to facilitate the return of those migrants not accorded the temporary right to stay. The opposition led by Berlusconi has announced to fight this new legal proposal. We will cover this story and add English links as soon as they become available.
• The European Council on Refugees and Exiles has published its memorandum to the Portuguese EU Presidency, recalling the priorities toward creating a Common European Asylum System by 2010.

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.