Migration

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. 

This week there has finally been some positive media about Iraq and its people. Iraqis cheered the Iraqi national team all around the world this past week when they beat defending champions Saudi Arabia in the Asia Cup of Football with a score of 1-0. Characteristic of the current situation according to unconfirmed sources, all the players on the team no longer lived in Iraq, and a match has not been played on Iraqi soil in nearly 17 years. In addition, there were fears that there might be some violence as during semifinal celebrations 50 fans of the team were killed in attacks in Iraq during street festivities. Despite all the positive and negative developments, the Iraqi national football team did achieve a great victory and is made up of many different cultures and religious affiliations as is the country itself. They are an example of how a positive future is plausible in Iraq despite all of its natural divisions in society. Only few were injured in the celebrations for the final victory of the Asia Cup.

Iraqis achieving victories outside of their country of birth is likely to become the standard in the future as many Iraqis are fleeing and have fled the chaos of their home state. In Cathryn Cluver’s wonderful posting this week on the Oxfam report on Iraq and its refugees we see that more than 2 million Iraqis have fled outside the country, and that inside the nation state the quality of life, education and other essentials have been drastically effected since 2003. For this reason it will be a likely trend that while Iraqis may achieve success outside of their home state, inside of Iraq success may be defined as being able to leave and as a result live outside of their place of birth.

While Iraqis are fleeing in record numbers, the host states that are accepting the refugees have yet to form a balanced approach to accepting refugees from one of the world’s most dangerous places. In a BBC World broadcast of August 2nd the situation in Syria where the brunt of the 2 million Iraqis have fled is discussed in detail in the telecast report. Syria, with a population of appx.18 million have accepted via some sources more than 1 million Iraqi refugees and with Jordan have accepted and are being pushed to accept more refugees. Despite this, the world community outside of Syria and Jordan have accepted very few Iraqi refugees compared to Syria and despite the focus and support they wish to give to Iraq, there has been little concrete action to help the actual people leaving Iraq. At the end of all the above observations, it is clear that a refugee crisis from Iraq had begun from the resulting conflict and that there needs to be a great deal more effort beyond Syria and Jordan in accepting Iraqi refugees…People can be surprised what refugees in conflict can do with some opportunity on an equal field of play.

See: R. Basas’ article The Burden Hardest to Bear for more information on Refugees leaving Iraq to Syria and Jordan

If you are a Palestinian refugee and have family ties to the West Bank, you may be in luck. In an apparent move to bolster the government of Mahmoud Abbas, which has been losing its footing in the Palestinian territories, the Israeli government is allowing “a number” of Palestinian refugees to settle in the West Bank (and the West Bank only - NOT Gaza), under “certain circumstances.” The article in the New York Times which reports this latest development, thus proves what experts have been warning us about over the past few weeks: The refugees stand to become a political pawn in the conflicts that plague the region.

Oxfam has joined the chorus of international relief agencies calling for immediate action against the looming humanitarian crisis in Iraq. According to its latest findings, every third Iraqi is in need of some kind of aid, be it because of food scarcity, insufficient water supplies or proper sanitation. In a report issued today, Oxfam notes that

• Four million Iraqis – 15% - regularly cannot buy enough to eat.
• 70% are without adequate water supplies, compared to 50% in 2003.
• 28% of children are malnourished, compared to 19% before the 2003 invasion.
• 92% of Iraqi children suffer learning problems, mostly due to the climate of fear.
• More than two million people – mostly women and children - have been displaced inside Iraq.
• A further two million Iraqis have become refugees, mainly in Syria and Jordan

Oxfam has called on the Iraqi government to extend its food aid program deeper into the country and demands that the members of the military coalition, i.e. the UK and US enhance their efforts toward easing the humanitarian crisis that exists as a result of the ongoing civil warfare in the country.

International relief and aid organization such as Oxfam have had to withdraw from Iraq over the past few months, given rising security concerns. By the same token, as reported in an article in German news magazine, Der Spiegel, local medical personnel and other highly-skilled experts, including engineers needed to restore water pipelines, etc. are leaving the country in droves. This exodus further exacerbates an already dire situation.

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.

Human Rights Watch is accusing the Spanish government of abusing unaccompanied migrant children in its detention facilities on the Canary Islands. In its report (“Spain’s Failure to Protect the Rights of Unaccompanied Migrant Children in the Canary Islands”) issued on July 26, the organization heavily criticizes the treatment of these minors while in camps on the islands off the coast of Spain. Interviews with the children revealed that they had been subjected to beatings by staff, and left unprotected from violence by their peers. German news magazine, Der Spiegel, is reporting that a number of these children have also been sexually abused during their time in the camps.

“These children should be protected by the Spanish authorities, not left to suffer beatings and abuse,” said Simone Troller, Europe children’s rights researcher for Human Rights Watch. “The Canary Islands government should close these centers and arrange better care for the children.”

The International Herald Tribune quotes a number of the children in its article:

“Children interviewed at La Esperanza talked of a punishment cell, a windowless room with no toilet, where they were beaten and locked up for days at a time and forced to urinate and defecate on the floor, the report said.

Jean-Marie N., a 17-year-old interned boy, described an incident when a youngster “got into trouble with educators” and was taken to the showers and beaten.

“There was blood on the boy’s mouth and his clothes were full of blood - his shirt could not be used anymore,” he said.”

According to Der Spiegel, Spain’s Minister of Social Affairs, Inés Rojas, has promised to follow up on the allegations and will personally inspect the camps over the next few days.

Autorities on the Canary Islands have created a total of four camps to house up to 500 children. After Spain stepped up its collaboration with other EU member states and the Union’s border patrol FRONTEX a total of 4700 migrants have arrived on the islands’ shore. Last week another migrant vessel capsized 180km off the coast of Spain, killing 50.

More articles on this story:

New York Times: In Spanish Centers for Migrant Youth, Reports of Squalor 

The Independent (UK) : Spain accused of keeping migrant children in ‘punishment’ cells

ABConline (Australia): Spain called on to close Canary Its migration camps

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).

With so many Chileans migrating to Canada in the 70s and 80’s, it was considered a home field advantage for Chile’s U-20 team last night in Toronto, Canada during the semi-finals of the Under 20 FIFA World Cup of Soccer/Futbol. In the end the Chilean team received 2 Red Cards, ejecting 2 players from the Chilean team and leading to a severe confrontation between local police and members of the Chilean team after the match. Many of the players were handcuffed and physically detained inside the stadium after the end of the match.

In front of the Canadian Embassy in Santiago, Chile many people saw the treatment of their national team as discriminatory. Many in Canada, who are not used to passionate expressions of support for a team outside of Hockey viewed the response after the loss by the Chilean team as unorthodox and the Toronto police quickly sought order during the match and after. The view by many in Canada is that the players threatened the overly strict FIFA official at the end of the match and the police quickly responded to the possible threat. In Chile, it was seen by many as a discriminatory response by Canada towards Chile’s national team who had a right to be upset at the poor conduct by the official of the match. While FIFA will likely respond to the actions of the young Chilean players and the strict approach by the official, it seems that the end of a fairly exciting U-20 tournament will likely sour much of the progress made during the last 3 weeks of Fair Play as promoted by FIFA since the infamous head butt by France’s Zidane during the final of the last World Cup.

With Latin passion being responded to with pepper spray, tasers and batons in Canada, there seems to be moments of controversy at the end of each World Cup…at least it will keep people watching.  Oh, and Argentina won against Chile 3-0…almost forgot!

This week’s news features commentary on the future of illegal immigration in the United States, a roundup of the integration summit in Germany and a call to change the international refugee convention to include the victims of famine and drought.

• Der Spiegel has full coverage of the German integration summit (in English), which hardly went as originally planned, plagued by boycotts from Turkish organizations. The overall integration concept was criticized by migrant groups for not being inclusive enough. Given the almost 40 years during which Germany denied being an immigration country, despite the largest number of foreigners living on its soil in Europe, this policy action plan attempts to be a tour de force. Nevertheless, much like the immigration legislation that was introduced during the last administration, one cannot but feel that all this comes a little too late. Coverage on the issue from the IHT can be found here.
• The European Council on Refugees and Exiles has published its report on the situation for refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced
  persons (IDPs) in Belarus, Moldova, Russian Federation and Ukraine in 2006.
• Over in the UK, the Institute for Public Policy Research is calling for an amnesty on illegal immigrants so that these migrants could become active tax payers. The think tank argues that deportation of Britain’s estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants would not only be a huge burden on tax payers, but is practically impossible - to say nothing of the fact that it would take over 30 years at the current rate. The BBC has the story here.
• Australia’s newspaper The Age features a commentary by Dr. Mirko Bagaric, former member of the Refugee Review Tribunal, who argues that the international refugee convention should be amended to include those suffering from famine and abject poverty: “Australia should take a leading role in broadening the scope of people it will allow to migrate for reasons of need. We need to broaden the definition of a refugee so that our compassion extends to those who are suffering the greatest degree of deprivation.”
• One of New York City’s most prominent immigration activists, Victor Toro, might face deportation, the New York Times reports, after his status was unveiled in a routine check by border patrol agents on regional transport.
• Another article in the same paper chronicles how immigrant activists are increasingly turning to second generation migrants as allies in their political efforts: “Many young people raised in this country know their way around a system that sometimes baffles their parents. Those who are citizens can speak out for those who have yet to get their papers.”
• Though not strictly from this week, The Economist, features an article on the drive to naturalize legally resident immigrants ahead of the US Presidential elections next fall.
• The same magazine comments on the failure of the Senate immigration Bill and offers a glimpse into the future: “Likely consequence will be an outbreak of ad hoc law-making in cities and states. Liberal and Hispanic enclaves may follow the example of National City, on the outskirts of San Diego, and declare themselves to be “sanctuary cities” where police officers are told not to quiz people about their immigration status. Others—probably a greater number—will tell the cops to do precisely that, or enact other laws against illegal immigrants and the people who house and employ them.”

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.