1. Global Compacts: “The Refugee convention could not pass now”
What happened to the global compacts for migrants and refugees that were supposed to come out of the Special UN Summit that was held in New York in September 2016? Unable to find common ground in the lead-up to the event, the States had opted for a simple declaration with no actual commitment, setting the deadline for the global compacts at the end of 2018. Sarnata Reynolds spoke with Open Democracy about the ongoing negotiating, stating that the Geneva Convention would never pass now.
2. CIE: changing names but not the substance?
According to the new immigration plan by interior minister Minniti, the CIE will now be called CPR (“Centri di permanenza per il rimpatrio”) and will opened in every region. They will be “something else entirely”, the minister reassured. And during a hearing before the Human Rights Committee of the Italian Senate on February 21, Minniti explained that CPR will be created for the purpose of detaining irregular foreign nationals “who represent a risk for the security of the country.” Meanwhile, the women detained in the CIE at Ponte Galeria (Rome) are telling a different story. Read Annalisa Camilli’s report for Internazionale.
3. Real data, fake conclusions
While addressing the Congress, President Trump said he would bring millions of jobs back to the USA by imposing a merit-based immigration system, similar to the models employed by Canada and Australia. He said this citing a (real) by the National Academy of Sciences that actually draws the opposite conclusion, stating that “immigrant workers have little to no negative effects on the wages or overall employment levels of native-born workers.” Read the fact-checking in Think Progress.
4. The EU’s migrant policy in Africa was built on incorrect Niger data
Niger is a key transit country for the flows of migrants and refugees towards the Mediterranean. The IOM data from last month seemed to indicate a significant drop in the number of migrants passing northwards through Niger. And the EU has been citing them as evidence the Partnership Framework is effective in reducing the flows towards the Mediterranean and in the fight against human traffickers. Too bad these data were incorrect. Read the exclusive report in Irin news
5. Calais, handing out meals to migrants poses a threat to security
Such is the opinion the mayor of Calais. Natacha Bouchart has banned organisations from distributing food to the increasing number of migrants who are returning to the city after the so-called “Jungle” refugee camp was demolished. Read the report in the Guardian.
6. Trump says he’ll deport only immigrants who are criminals. That’s a lie
President Trump claims he’s going to deport only undocumented criminals who committed crimes. A special office in the Department of Homeland Security called VOICE (Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement) will be tasked with recording crimes committed by “illegals” and supporting those victimized by them. Statistical data tell a different story, showing that undocumented immigrants are no more likely to commit crimes in America than the rest of the population, and that they are often wrongly targeted. Read the article in The Intercept.
7. Deportation machine
The ability to deport effectively is becoming central to the political debate in many countries. While Trump is delivering the crackdown he promised during his campaign, Germany is gearing up for elections in September, with issues of immigration and asylum playing a key role in the outcome. The Economist compared the German and the American approach.
8. Canada’s own immigration ban
Despite its attempts to be an example for the world by welcoming refugees, Canada’s two-tier migrant system, unless adequately reformed, may bring about injustice and discrimination, particularly against the Roma people fleeing persecution in their countries of origin. Read Dafina Savic and Debbie Folaron’s report in Al Jazeera.
9. The hardest way to get into the US? Seeking political asylum
Despite accusations by the Trump administration, which has called it inefficient and a threat to national security, the United States have a long, hard and very severe vetting process for refugees. A former immigration officer describes it to the Washington Post.
10. Relocation programme still at 8%
No more excuses, warns the European Commission. Member states have carried out less than 8 per cent of the promised refugee relocations from Italy and Greece. Read the story in the Guardian.
Translation by Francesco Graziosi.
Header photo: Fibonacci Blue (CC BY 2.0).
