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PICUM Bulletin — 18 July 2011
- Borders
- European Policy Developments
- National Developments
- Health Care
- Labour and Fair Working Conditions
- Undocumented Women
- Undocumented Children and Their Families
- Detention and Deportation
- Events
- Other News
BordersTop
ISRAEL / DEATH AT THE BORDER / Four migrants shot dead by Egyptian police while trying to enter Israel
Four migrants from Sudan were shot dead by the Egyptian police while trying to enter Israel through irregular channels. Since January 2011, the Egyptian police have already killed eight people who were trying to cross into Israel along the Sinai border. In November 2010, Israel started building a new wall meant to stop the influx of irregular migrants entering the country from the Sinai desert on the border with Egypt.
Source: Fortress Europe, 26 June 2011ITALY / DEATH AT THE BORDER / Migrant dies from epileptic seizure on board of the Excelsior
Migrant dies from epileptic seizure on board of the Excelsior
An irregular migrant from Ghana, who had arrived by boat to Lampedusa, Italy, died on 25 June 2011 from an epileptic seizure on board a vessel that was transferring 1,185 migrants to mainland Italy, witnesses say. He was already reported to have had another seizure just after he arrived in Italy, but no special procedure was started for his case. The autopsy will have to confirm the cause of the death.
Source: Fortress Europe, 25 June 2011ITALY / Migration pressure moves back to Italy from the Turkish-Greek border
The FRONTEX Deputy Director, Gil Arias Fernandes, said on 15 June 2011, that the biggest irregular migration pressure on EU external borders has moved back to Italy from the Turkish-Greek border, mainly due to the deployment of the EU border police along the Greek-Turkish border and the unrest in North Africa. Traffickers have again modified their itinerary and in the first three months of 2011, of the 32,906 asylum seekers and irregular migrants apprehended at the EU borders around 22,000 arrived in Lampedusa, Italy.
Source: Migration News Sheet, July 2011SPAIN / DEATH AT THE BORDER / One dead body and 45 missing people off Costa del Sol
One dead body and 45 missing people off Costa del Sol
After rescuing a boat with 48 migrants off the coast of Alboran, in Andalusia, Spain, the Spanish coast guard started search operations of 6 migrants who fell into the water and went missing, and of 40 other migrants that were in a second boat never found by the radars on 25 June 2011. The coast guard later found only one dead body that was probably on the second boat. The others remain missing.
Source: Fortress Europe, 25 June 2011TUNISIA / Algerian families appeal for information about the fate of their missing children
The families of a group of 39 young Algerians, three Tunisians and one Moroccan, who went missing while trying to reach Europe in 2008, are appealing to the Tunisian authorities to find out what happened to their children. The press conference, on 11 July 2011, fell during the official visit to Algiers by chief diplomat Mohamed Kefi. Evidence obtained by Algerian and international NGOs indicates that the young migrants were arrested by the Tunisian Maritime Police and detained. Following the revolution in Tunisia, the families and NGOs are appealing to the new Minister of the Interior Habib Essid to launch an investigation. The Ministry has said that it currently has no information. International NGOs have repeatedly put forward the cases of the estimated 300 undocumented migrants that are languishing in Tunisian detention centres, and have reported the existence of 11 secret detention camps funded by Italy, as part of its bilateral agreements with Tunisia regarding cooperation in the fight against irregular migration.
Source: Migreurop, 12 July 2011; Le Quotidien d’Oran, 12 July 2011TUNISIA/ Algerian families appeal for information about the fate of their missing children
The families of a group of 39 young Algerians, three Tunisians and one Moroccan, who went missing while trying to reach Europe in 2008, are appealing to the Tunisian authorities to find out what happened to their children. The press conference, on 11 July 2011, fell during the official visit to Algiers by chief diplomat Mohamed Kefi. Evidence obtained by Algerian and international NGOs indicates that the young migrants were arrested by the Tunisian Maritime Police and detained. Following the revolution in Tunisia, the families and NGOs are appealing to the new Minister of the Interior Habib Essid to launch an investigation. The Ministry has said that it currently has no information. International NGOs have repeatedly put forward the cases of the estimated 300 undocumented migrants that are languishing in Tunisian detention centres, and have reported the existence of 11 secret detention camps funded by Italy, as part of its bilateral agreements with Tunisia regarding cooperation in the fight against irregular migration.
Source: Migreurop, 12 July 2011; Le Quotidien d’Oran, 12 July 2011
http://www.lequotidien-oran.com/index.php?news=5155494&archive_date=2011-07-12
European Policy DevelopmentsTop
COUNCIL OF THE EU / Polish Presidency lists border controls and Schengen as priorities
At the occasion of the European Parliament’s plenary meeting in Strasbourg on 5 July 2011, the Polish Presidency of the EU for the next six months presented its priorities. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned of the resurgence of nationalism in times of crisis and called for stronger cooperation between Member States across all sectors, especially on the issue of immigration. The Polish Presidency will study ways to improve the functioning of the Schengen area and will work on amending the Schengen Borders Code, as was decided by the European Council on 24 June 2011. Furthermore, Tusk committed the Presidency to concluding work on amending the Frontex mandate, considering that internal security is strongly linked to the security of the EU's external borders.
Source: ECRE Bulletin, 8 July 2011STUDY / Schengen Agreement called into question
An analysis of the Schengen Agreement's implementation and challenges was published by the CERI (International Study and Research Centre- Sciences Po) which pointed out the fall back position of Member States on the freedom of movement in Europe in the context of the ‘Arab Spring’ and the rise of far right parties across Europe and overall general popular discontent in the aftermath of the economic crisis.
Source: CERISCOPE Frontières, 1 July 2011
National DevelopmentsTop
DENMARK / Government re-imposes border controls amid pressure from extreme right
The Danish centre-right coalition yielded to growing pressure from its extreme right party, the Danish People’s Party, and re-imposed border controls in a move that challenges the 1995 Schengen Agreement, which abolished internal borders, enabling passport-free movement inside much of Western Europe. The Danish People Party said this would help in curbing irregular migration and trans-border crime. The first checks were carried out on 5 July 2011 and were not welcomed by drivers who were used to crossing the border regular and at ease, some of whom labelled the checks as “anti-European”.
Source: BBC News, 5 July 2011FRANCE / UMP Party debate on immigration
On 7 July 2011, the right-wing UMP Party held a convention on immigration challenges at the National Assembly. A document with 23 proposals toughening the migration policy was discussed to prepare arguments for the Presidential elections. The debate was very animated and clearly served as a release for extremists from the right wing of the Party.
Source: Mediapart, 7 July 2011FRANCE / New Law on immigration promulgated
On 16 June 2011, the controversial “Besson” law on immigration was adopted despite one year of intense debates. The Constitutional Council validated most of the text, including the most restrictive measures of the law and the law entered into force on 18 June 2011. Most of the measures will be applicable only after the publication of the decrees by end-September 2011. French NGO La Cimade has announced that it will continue to fight the application of restrictive immigration laws by taking it to courts but also through campaigning.
Source: Cimade, 5 July 2011FRANCE / CSP75 campaigns to re-launch regularization procedure of undocumented migrants
The Coordination 75 des Sans-Papiers (CSP75 – Coordination 75 of Undocumented Migrants) made a 2-hour long protest with over 300 individuals at the office of the lawyer of the President of the Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy on 12 July 2011. There are various CSP in France and the CSP75 works on supporting undocumented migrants in Paris. Their action was to call for the re-initiation of the regularization process which has been put on hold since 15 May 2011 in Paris. The result of the action was a brief encounter with the Director of the Prefecture of Paris who promised the reestablishment of the 2002 agreement between the CSP 75 and the Prefecture of the Police in Paris.
Source: Ministère de la régularisation de tous les sans-papiers, 13 July 2011ITALY / Minister of Interiors insists to give more powers to majors against irregular migration
The Minister of the Interior, Roberto Maroni, wants to reintroduce a norm that would give more executive powers to city mayors to counter irregular migration. He argued that the experimentation carried out till now has given good results and there is no reason to stop going in this direction. A previous attempt was halted by the Constitutional court, but the Minister said that the new draft proposal would be more compatible with Constitutional law.
Source: La Repubblica, 8 July 2011ITALY / National demonstration against interdiction for the press to enter migrant detention centres
A national demonstration against the prohibition for the press to enter migrant detention centres will take place on 25 July 2011 in front of different detention centres across the country. MPs, journalists, and NGOs will take part in the demonstration calling on the government to re-open the doors to journalists and reply to the letter sent to the Ministry of the Interior by the Italian Association of Journalists demanding explanations for this decision.
Source: Corriere Immigrazione, 9 July 2011UK / New social justice communication organization to open
A new social justice communication organization will open in July 2011 with the mission to inform and contribute to public debate on migration and social justice. The organization will consider narrative, messaging and public attitudes towards refugees and migrant and will work with others to ensure that the debate is rooted in evidence, fairness and humanity. The five trusts and foundations which are supporting the communication organization are the Barrow Cadbury Trust, The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, the Open Society Foundation, Trust for London and Unbound Philanthropy.
Source: Barrow Cadbury, 30 June 2011USA / Mayor of the city of Boston calls for immediate changes to Security Communities
Mayor Thomas Menino, from Boston in the state of Massachusetts, once a proponent of the US federal program Secure Communities, has changed his stance and calls for needed changes in the program or else he will withdraw the participation of the Boston police. After meeting with law enforcement officials and the heads of immigrant advocacy groups in a roundtable discussion to learn more about how the program was affecting local immigrant communities, the mayor changed his position. Many of those at the meeting said the program has failed to make streets safer because it discourages immigrants from reporting crimes or talking to police for fear of deportation. For past articles on the Secure Communities program see PICUM Bulletin, 28 March 2011 and PICUM Bulletin, 23 May 2011.
Source: Boston.com, 11 July 2011USA / Churches in Alabama become the leading opponents of immigration law
After the state of Alabama passed what is widely considered the nation's most restrictive state law against undocumented migrants, mainstream churches, faith-based organizations and individual members are at the forefront of opposition to the act. Some see their involvement as a way to avoid repeating mistakes that were made during the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s when many churches failed to join the fight to end racial segregation. Leaders of the United Methodist church, the Episcopal Church, the Lutheran Church and the Roman Catholic Church have criticized the law as countering religious teachers. A lawsuit has already been filed against the law, whose plaintiffs include unions, individuals and social services groups, saying that the law would result in racial profiling.
Source: Associated Press, 11 July 2011; Southern Poverty Law Center, 8 July 2011USA / Harsh editorial calls for the federal government to pass immigration law
In a harsh editorial, The New York Times tears apart the recent immigration laws that have been introduced and passed in a number of US states saying that it is impossible for undocumented migrants to live without fear. The editorial questions extreme laws such as the one in Alabama which forces public school districts to determine the immigration status of students and their parents and then to report the data to the state. As well, it says that arguments from those that say there is a need to deport the 11 million undocumented already in the US is sheer lunacy and there is a need for the federal government to pass functioning immigration law.
Source: The New York Times, 3 July 2011
Health CareTop
FINLAND / Clinic for undocumented migrants open
In April 2011, the Global Clinic opened in Helsinki, Finland. The clinic is based on a model which already exists in Sweden. The purpose is to fill the gap by providing health care to undocumented migrants and other migrants (e.g. Roma) who do not have a European Health Insurance Card and therefore are refused the access to health care. The clinic is mainly funded by Deaconess and is supported by voluntary medical professionals.
Source: Nyheter, 4 April 2011SWEDEN / Radio documentary is released in Sweden about a clinic which serves undocumented migrants
Radio Sweden has released a series that provides an in depth look at the hospital clinic which has been set up to provide health care to undocumented migrants. Currently, in Sweden, undocumented migrants are only entitled to emergency medical care with full payment. The clinic is referred to as a ‘secret clinic’ as its location is not disclosed. The documentary is a four part series which shows everyday life in the clinic, the range of patients that visit and what their needs are. There is support from the clinic from a number of volunteer doctors and as noted from the Chair of the Swedish Medical Association, no legal document should be allowed to decide which medical care actions should be taken as medical professionals are trained to make the assessment. In March 2011 the Swedish government introduced a framework agreement that would allow more rights to undocumented migrants in several areas such as education and health care (see PICUM Bulletin, 14 March 2011).
Source: Sverige Radio, Hemliga Klinkiken (Secret Hosptial Clinic), 4-7 July 2011, (you can listen but it’s in Swedeish!); Rosengrenska’s Weblog, 4 July 2011; Lakartidningen.se, 12 April 2011UK / Health care and migration conference in September in London
A conference focusing on “The Access to Universal Healthcare in the Age of Migration” will take place 23 September 2011 in London and the event will highlight experiences from NHS services in working to provide migrant communities with health services. The conference will provide an opportunity to discuss country-wide initiatives that are working and whether the good practice can be transferred from one region to others.
Source: Access to Universal Health Care in the Age of Migration, 11 July 2011
Labour and Fair Working ConditionsTop
IRELAND / Inspections find abuses of domestic workers
Several domestic workers have managed to secure proper working conditions following the first inspections of private homes carried out by the National Employment Rights Authority, which was set up to monitor and secure compliance with employment law. In a pilot project this year, they undertook 20 inspections of private homes. One case detected by inspectors involved a woman from the Philippines who was working seven days a week and up to 80 hours per week as a care worker for an older person. The woman, who did not receive regular pay slips or a work contract, did not feel she could report the case to the authorities for fear of losing her job. But the inspection means she is now working 40 hours a week and has a contract.
Source: Irish Times, 6 July 2011FRA / Domestic workers in EU exploited
The European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) has said that more and more undocumented domestic workers are being exploited, abused and maltreated. Their living conditions are described as “terrifying”. The FRA based its findings on interviews with 72 undocumented domestic workers in ten EU countries. Because many domestic workers are afraid to inform the police in case of abuse for fear of expulsion, they are even more exposed to risks. The FRA advises the EU to carry out more checks and ease immigration laws to make it easier for vacancies to be filled by workers with the right papers. The FRA report also notes the impact of physical and mental exhaustion on the health of the undocumented workers.) The report offers key recommendation of how to address the situation. To read the report, click here.
Source: NU.nl, 5 July 2011UK / In opposition to the government’s new proposals, migrant domestic workers unite
Migrant domestic workers, NGOs and trade unions gathered for a meeting which discussed the government proposals to change the current domestic worker visa program. The government is currently discussing to either close it altogether or to severely limit it. Changes which are currently being debated would for example, prevent them from settling and brining their families to the UK as well, take away provisions which give them protection from abuse by employers. Over 250 domestic workers were present at the meeting and shared their opinions and experiences in working in the UK under the program. The NGO Kalayaan will send all responses to the Home Office for consideration when developing their final proposals.
Source: MRN, 11 July 2011UK-USA / Lack of UK help for abused embassy staff draws concern in US State Department report
In a report on human trafficking which was released by the US State Department, concern was expressed about the abuse of domestic staff working in various foreign embassies in London and the fact that repeated allegations of mistreatment are not addressed by the British government. Many organizations believe that the problem is actually much larger than reported. In a separate report by Kalayaan, an organization which supports victims of human trafficking and migrant workers suffering abuse or exploitation, they cited 64% of diplomatic domestic staff work a seven-day week, 57% receive £50 per week or less, and 50% work 16-hour days. In addition, 65% have their passports taken away from them and held by their employer and 58% reported they had been bullied or psychologically abused.
Source: Guardian, 27 June 2011; US State Department, Trafficking in Persons Report 2011, 27 June 2011USA / New anti-immigration law in Georgia and the proposed effects on the restaurant industry
In the state of Georgia, there is a lot of discussion on how the new anti-immigration law will affect the state’s economy (see PICUM Bulletin 20 June and 23 May 2011 regarding the law and effects in the farming industry. When looking into the restaurant industry, which relies heavily on immigrant labor, similar concern and uncertainty was found from interviewees and in fact, the journalist had a difficult time in finding chefs and restaurant owners that were willing to discuss the law openly. One interviewee mentioned that when looking to hire a new cook that they purposely stayed away from names that “looked to be Mexican” because they knew the new law would soon take effect and did not know if the persons would be regular or undocumented.
Source: CL Atlanta, 11 July 2011
Undocumented WomenTop
REPORT / Women Against Violence in Europe echo PICUM's concerns about Undocumented Women
The situation facing undocumented migrant women who experience gender-based violence has been widely highlighted by the 2010 Country report 2010 of Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE) released in July 2011. Gathering information from across the EU17, the report seeks to serve as a lobbying tool for addressing policy makers, both on the national and international level, in order to improve the protection and support of all women survivors of violence and their children, including undocumented migrant women. The report makes several references to PICUM's current focus on undocumented women, reiterating many of PICUM's key concerns about the disempowerment of undocumented migrant women within the migration-control regime, and criticising 'problematic' government policies which deny undocumented women access to public funds and thus, limited resources to accommodate them. The report provides comprehensive EU overview regarding the situation of migrant women, including undocumented, in terms of access to shelters and information, access to an independent residence permit for survivors of violence, and access to public funds and services.
The report notes that, despite the feedback from women's shelters and support services, "according to a report by PICUM, this rather positive picture does not seem to reflect the reality of undocumented migrant women, who often experience that they are not provided with shelter places."
SOURCE: WAVE 2010 Country Report available for free download here
Undocumented Children and Their FamiliesTop
SPAIN / Government advocates the return to Morocco for undocumented migrant children
Secretary of State for Immigration and Emigration, Anna Terron, has demanded the "reintegration" of undocumented Moroccan children back in their familiar environments in their home countries and put forward key suggestions as to how carry it out. This falls within the new Immigration regulations that came into force on 30 June 2011 which encourages return of undocumented migrants when needed and possible. The government has justified its decision saying it is considering the well-being of the children to live with their families in Morocco.
Source: Canarias 7, 7 July 2011USA / Debate about undocumented migration considers roles of teachers
Debate over the roles of teachers and the education of undocumented children has been sparked by the recent public revelation by award-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas that he is an undocumented migrant (see PICUM Bulletin 4 July 2011). Two of the key people in his story were educators, who helped keep his secret and find solutions (including finding him a scholarship to attend university and helping him to secure a driving license). With an estimated 11 million undocumented migrants in the U.S., educators increasingly find themselves caught between their obligation to educate each child, and conflicting guidance, as law officers and lawmakers in some states want schools to cooperate in immigration enforcement measures, which would effectively deny undocumented children their right to an education. For example, Alabama's Legislature recently passed a law requiring schools to report the immigration status of students. Anticipating such policies, the U.S. Education Department and Justice Department issued a joint letter to school districts in May 2011 reminding them they are required to provide all children equal access to public education. At the same time, there is little direction about whether to help such students beyond the classroom. National education groups echo that each child has a right to education, but recommend that schools avoid getting involved when it comes to students' citizenship issues. Hyland, who was the principal at Mountain View High School when Vargas was there, said "It's a conundrum. ... What are we doing to help this child survive and help this child reach his or her potential? ...Educators are stuck in that position. We are sort of an underground support network for a lot of kids who come to us."
Source: Associated Press, 7 July 2011
Detention and DeportationTop
BELGIUM / Children no longer allowed in detention centres
Undocumented migrants with children can no longer be put in closed detention centres ‘unless they do not want to return voluntarily’, decided a Belgian Parliamentary Committee of Internal Affairs. With this decision, the EU Returns Directive is being adopted within Belgian law. The only exception to this new law is families who refuse to voluntarily return and if the detention centers have special services for children. In 2010, 66 families stayed in detention with 102 minors, 44 of these were accommodated in individual houses and 20 returned back to their country of origin voluntarily.
Source: Zita.be, 7 July 2011GREECE / Amnesty International denounces conditions of migrant detention in Greece
After a three-day visit to the detention facilities of Fylakio, Ferres, Soufli and Tyhero on Greece’s border with Turkey, Amnesty International has denounced the appalling conditions endured by hundreds of irregular migrants and asylum-seekers, including unaccompanied children. For example, in Fylakio, both the toilets and the area where children are held were flooded. Despite their age, unaccompanied children are also detained for prolonged periods until places become available in a special reception centre for minors. The problem is compounded by the fact that there are still very few special reception centres. While acknowledging the challenges that Greece is facing, Amnesty International emphasises that detention under such conditions, including of unaccompanied children, and the continuing practice of systematically detaining asylum-seekers for prolonged periods are in violation of international human rights standards.
Source: Amnesty International, 8 July 2011SPAIN / The rights of detained irregular migrants waiting for deportation
In Spain, recent complaints have emerged over the detention conditions as well as news of tragic incidents such as hunger strikes and suicides are raising queries as to the lack of transparency and regulation in these centers. Various social institutions have called for transparent and appropriate regulations as well as improved respect for the rights of irregular migrants detained under a campaign why advocates that ‘rights do not stop at the door of CEI’.
Source: El País, 5 July 2011UK / Amnesty International seeks reform of enforced removal processes
After the sad climax which followed the death of Jimmy Mubenga, an irregular migrant, during a forced removal process from the UK in October 2010, Amnesty International is demanding a general reform of forced deportation procedures. It came to the organisation’s attention that private contractors who are executing enforced returns were taught improper techniques which could harm people and infringe their dignity. Amnesty International not only calls for a reform of the trainings of the contractors but an independent monitoring of every removal process and investigations whenever there are any allegations of harm. If you would like more information on the case of Jimmy Mubenga click here. To take part in the call for action, fill out the letter template to send an email to UK Home Secretary, Theresa May.
Source: Amnesty International, July 2011; The Guardian, 7 July 2011
EventsTop
FRANCE / The "Jungle Tour": 400 km by bike to defend migrants' rights
In the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, a group of associations cycle from one migrants’ camp to another to "defend the rights of immigrants". This "Jungle Tour" will include 8 stages and 400 km by bike from Bailleul to Brussels where the militants aim to give the European Commission testimonies of associations on the living conditions of migrants.
Source: Liberation, 11 July 2011
Other NewsTop
UK / Immigration Advisory Service is closed down!
Immigration Advisory Service (IAS), a PICUM member, and the largest provider of publically funded immigration and asylum legal advice, has been forced to shut down due to funding. IAS, a registered charity, has been in existence for 35 years, and employs 300 staff at 14 locations across England and Scotland. It is renowned for a large number of important legal precedent cases which have been taken through the Courts, including to the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights. The Governments reforms include the removal of immigration from the scope of legal aid, and a 10% cut in legal aid fees for refugees seeking asylum within the UK. Immigration accounts for around 60% of IAS’s income. As of 8 July 2011, IAS is no longer available to work on any cases and has handed them over to joint administrators.
Source: Immigration Advisory Service, 11 July 2011; The Guardian, 13 July 20011UK / Lush Campaign, “No One Is Illegal”
Lush, a UK based company which develops fresh cosmetics products, has launched a campaign entitled “No One Is Illegal”. The campaign aims to destruct and confront myths relating to immigration and migrants as they are exposed in the media as they are portray a negative image and “bread fear”. Lush acknowledges that migration is a complex and sensitive issue but calls for the heart of the issue to be addressed namely the fact that it is about respecting and promoting “human rights and human dignity, it is about equality and justice”. The campaign denounces the racist rooting of migration policies, the criminalisation of the “foreigner” and the punishment of people for their economic, and cultural and national identity status. To show your support, sign the NOII Declaration here. Also as part of the campaign, Lush has released a “light-hearted and thought-provoking” video which looks into the system of border controls which are often arbitrary. View the video here.
Source: Lush
