Whether
fleeing from conflict, persecution or simply looking for a better
life, Europe has faced a a flood of immigrants trying to break
through its borders. There has been a recent influx in the numbers of
Sub-Saharan migrants coming into the Spanish enclave of Melilla – a
50 percent influx from 2013. Similarly to the border control between
the United States and Mexico, Spain has constructed several fences to
deter immigrants as well as strict border controls. The risks of
coming over are high. Many migrants incur injuries along the way
either from Moroccan guards beating them or the perils of jumping the
fence. Many
others fail to get across at all.
Once
in Spain the immigrants are entitled to apply for asylum. And
ultimately due to a lack of treaties with the migrants native lands,
Spain cannot deport them. This challenge has led Spain to take a hard
line against incoming migrants. Spanish officials admitted to firing
rubber bullets at those who’ve attempted to swim across to Europe.
They are also considering changing laws to make it easier to eject
immigrants.
It
makes sense that people who live in an impoverished, oppressive or
war-torn regions, would want to get over to a stable, developed
nation to build a better life – especially when that nation is so
close. I think it speaks to the kind of conditions that these
immigrants faced, that they are willing to endure such risks and in
some cases years of traveling to get somewhere better. It’s not
just Africans immigrating – many Turks have come into countries
like Germany, and Syrians are fleeing from the conflict there into
other European nations. Illegal immigration a complicated issue. But
I don’t think that building fences is the way to resolve it. Until
reparations are made in the nations that are being left, people will
continue to flee from them. The problem will only stop when
education, opportunity and hope are available in whatever nation
these migrants called home.
05
Wednesday Mar 2014
http://kennedylive.wordpress.com/2014/03/
