Greener pastures1

(Illegal) Immigration is quite understandably always a raw topic in the first world societies which have to host new arrivals who are widely regarded as a drain on social resources and opportunities. Even though illegal immigrants have no choice but pursue menial employment generally low paid “under the table jobs”; emigration from the third world is still regarded an aspirational pursuit towards greener pastures which is materially better than staying at home. In the last few years there has been a raft of news coverage chronicling an “exodus” of migrants (mostly African) to Europe via Libiya complete with pictures of packed boats and refugees crawling onto beaches European next to relaxing tourists.

The migrants fall into two categories, asylum seekers fleeing persecution (whom are more sympathetically received) and the economic migrants in search of greener pastures.  It is hard to fault the aspirational spirit that spurs them to risk their lives walking across the Sahara desert and attempt the voyage across to Europe’s “gold paved” streets but the realities are quite brutal. One could argue that, even at the best of times, illegal economic migrants will be lucky to find themselves warmly received in Europe and much less so in light the harsher economic conditions brought on by the recent financial crash. All this before they have time to learn to assimilate into new societies and (if necessary) have to learn a new language. And this is not confined to Europe as Humble the Poet from Toronto deftly chronicles the perspective of an immigrant to Canada with this piece:

*I’ve had occasion to ride in many taxis in toronto driven by overqualified immigrants (some of them fellow countrymen) who could not find jobs with their degrees just as Humble alludes.

The story of Justice Amin; one such immigrants featured in the video below is part of a BBC Panorama Programme that sheds light more light on the dangers involved in the journey from various countries in Africa to Europe (across the Sahara Desert on foot and the Mediterranean voyage).

More recently; Ghadafi’s usually ostracised dictatorship in Libya has made the news for cooperation with the EU on what some characterise as a contentious immigration pact that seeks to stem the flow of African illegal immigrants leaving it’s shores for Europe. The controversy centres around whether refugees (economic or otherwise) will get humane treatment on par with what they would receive in Europe if they are preemptively caught in the desert or Libyan waters. In light of this, the distinction between economic migrants and asylum seekers fleeing persecution becomes all the more relevant. Either way, there is an ultimate discourse to be had. Although tempting, it should not be wholly about preventative actions and patrols to stop migrants from crossing the sea, or desert, or the racism and discrimination that they may be subject to in foreign societies. The discourse should be about the root causes that push them out of their homelands in the first place and the socioeconomic  inequality and injustices which make their journeys credible in the first place as well as things like reversing the brain drain.

Other articles offering opinions on (illegal) immigration:

Migration Glossary (BBC)

Key facts: Africa to Europe migration (BBC)

Migrants at sea (blog)

The EU’s dubious refugee deal (guardian.co.uk)

Pope offers surprising views on immigration (defending a country’s right to close its borders)

Immigrants’ perspective, not just work ethic leads to successful lives in America

globalvisas.com/blog