Un fallecido y un desaparecido tras hundirse una patera en Murcia - Yahoo! Noticias
miércoles, 17 de junio, 08.11
Europa Press
Una persona falleció y otra se encuentra desaparecida tras hundirse una patera con diez inmigrantes argelinos a bordo a unas 30 millas al sureste de Cabo de Palos, en Murcia, según informaron a Europa Press fuentes de Salvamento Marítimo y Cruz Roja.
La patera fue avistada a última hora de la tarde del martes por un petrolero cuando navegaba al sureste de Cabo de Palos y, debido al fuerte oleaje en la zona por las rachas de viento, empezó a zozobrar.
A pesar del intento de los marineros del petrolero por rescatar a los diez ocupantes de la patera, sólo nueve de ellos consiguieron subir al barco. No obstante, el estado de salud de uno de ellos estaba muy deteriorado debido al agotamiento del viaje y a las condiciones climatológicas del mar, por lo que acabó falleciendo antes de poder ser trasladado a un centro hospitalario.
Los servicios de emergencia buscaban pasada la medianoche en la zona a la décima persona que, según los argelinos, viajaba junto a ellos en la embarcación. En el dispositivo de búsqueda participaron una patrullera de la Guardia Civil, así como personal de Salvamento Marítimo.
El petrolero que transportaba a los argelinos hasta el puerto de Cartagena tiene previsto llegar a tierra poco después de la medianoche. En el puerto espera un dispositivo de Cruz Roja compuesto por dos ambulancias, dos vehículos de logística, un enfermero de emergencia y diez voluntarios, ante la previsión de que los inmigrantes presenten síntomas de hipotermia debido a las bajas temperaturas del mar.
Report Links Increase in Hate Crimes to Contentious Debate Over ImmigrationBy Spencer S. Hsu
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
U.S. civil rights leaders said yesterday that an increase in hate crimes committed in recent years against Hispanics and people perceived to be immigrants "correlates closely" to the nation's increasingly contentious debate over immigration.
Hate crimes targeting Hispanic Americans rose 40 percent from 2003 to 2007, the most recent year for which FBI statistics are available, from 426 to 595 incidents, marking the fourth consecutive year of increases.
The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund issued a report that faulted anti-immigrant rhetoric in the media and mobilization of extremist groups on the Internet. The conference said that some groups advocating for tighter immigration laws have invoked "the dehumanizing, racist stereotypes and bigotry of hate groups."
"Reasonable people will disagree . . . but the tone of discourse over comprehensive immigration reform needs to be changed, needs to be civil and sane," said Michael Lieberman, Washington counsel for the Anti-Defamation League.
The FBI reported in October that the number of hate crimes dropped in 2007 by about 1 percent, to 7,624. But violence against Latinos and gay people bucked the trend. The number of hate crimes directed at gay men and lesbians increased about 6 percent, the FBI reported.
Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which was criticized in the LCCREF report, said it was "another salvo against free speech by the pro-amnesty coalition . . . to delegitimize any critic of mass immigration."
timesofmalta.com - EU Council to discuss illegal migrationTuesday, 16th June 2009 - 15:01CET
European Unions heads of governemnt are to discuss illegal immigration during a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, the Foreign Ministry said today.
Also on the agenda is the economic crisis, measures to boost employment, climate change and sustainable development.
The Foreign Ministry said that Malta, Italy Greece and Cyprus insisted at a foreign ministers' meeting yesterday that the Immigration Pact agreed by European leaders last October had to be implemented. They also called for a conclusion to the proposed EU-Libya Framework Agreement by the end of this year
allAfrica.com: Mozambique: Maratane Refugees Complain of Ill-Treatment
16 June 2009
Maputo — Some refugees in the Maratane centre, in the northern Mozambican province of Nampula, mostly from the Great Lakes region in central Africa, have accused the commander of the local police post, Muriricha Chicopo, of abuse of power, reports Tuesday's issue of the Maputo daily 'Noticias'.
Among the alleged irregularities, the accusers mention detentions for refusing to give products on credit, and a ban on wearing clothes which might be confused with military uniforms.
One of the refugees, Bishop She-Ndaby, told reporters that such complaints have been reported to the provincial police command and to the managers of the centre. He said that such irregularities have reached "intolerable" proportions, threatening that this situation may lead to demonstrations, with serious consequences.
"Nobody can bear any longer the humiliation to which he is submitting us", said She-Ndaby.
He added that one of the refugees, only identified as Alijo, was arrested recently for playing dice, an activity that the refugees regard as simple entertainment, after work in the fields, and not a crime.
Another refugee, whose identity was not revealed, is said to have been arrested for wearing clothes similar to military uniform, which he claimed to have purchased among bundles of second hand clothes.
She-Ndaby said that the matter has been reported to the provincial police command, "but no action was taken to reverse the situation'.
Nampula Police spokesperson Oliveira Maneque expressed doubt about the refugees' allegations.
For his part, the centre's interim manager Antonio Mussupai said that he has never received any reports on such irregularities. "I have never been informed about this matter, but now I promise I will take steps to find out the truth".
According to Mussupai, the main problem with some of the asylum seekers has to do with attempts to disobey the legally established order.
"I will not comment on the issue of credit, because I do not know in what circumstances it happened, but as for clothes with military characteristics, the regulations prohibit it, because there (in the refugee camp) you can't circulate things that make people think about war. And as for the dice game, it is an illicit activity and measures must be taken against it", said Mussupai.
On his recent visit to the centre, Nampula provincial governor Felismino Tocoli advised the about 4,000 refugees in the centre to respect the local authorities and the laws of Mozambique.
Sveriges Radio International - English -- Engelska
Three abandoned brothers from war-torn Congo Kinshasa who fled to Sweden two years ago are fighting to stay here after being told by the Swedish Migration Board that they must go back to their native country.
The boys, Asa, Kenneth and Patrick Vuvu who aged 7, 13 and 14 , say they face torture and death if they're sent back. Now their schoolfriends, local residents and politicians are campaigning to keep them in Sweden.
Listen to Dave Russell's report
Two years ago they fled Congo Kinshasa with their mother seeking political asylum in Sweden after their father, a member of the political opposition, disappeared. Six months later after their plea for asylum in Sweden was rejected three times, the mother fled underground, hoping that with her 3 children living alone, they'd have a legal right to stay. The boys now live with a guardian.
The Swedish Migration Board has said that it found no evidence that the children faced torture by being sent back to Congo. It did say that it would never leave children in a country on their own but if it could find a relative or another acceptable way, then it would follow the children over there and hand them into safe care. But it wouldn't do that until it was 100 percent sure that the boys would be looked after.
BBC NEWS | England | London | UK immigrant amnesty 'worth £3bn'
Granting amnesty to long-term illegal immigrants in the UK, could add up to £3bn to the economy, a report has said.
The London School of Economics report said amnesty would not lead to a rise in migration but would raise spending on welfare services and housing.
About 618,000 people are illegally in the UK of which 442,000 are in London.
London Mayor Boris Johnson commissioned the study and said it proved immigrants were "far from a financial burden" and had highlighted "long overdue facts".
“ This new report has introduced some long overdue facts, hard evidence and academic rigour into a debate which has far too often been dominated by myth, anecdote and hearsay ”
Boris Johnson
The study found that if a five-year residency plan was introduced 67% of illegal immigrants would be eligible to live in the UK.
Mr Johnson said: "This new report has introduced some long overdue facts, hard evidence and academic rigour into a debate which has far too often been dominated by myth, anecdote and hearsay.
"So, far from a financial burden, as some suggest, this new research has found an amnesty could be worth up to £3bn a year to the country's economy.
"The study also demolishes the argument that an amnesty would inevitably lead to increased migration to the UK and identifies effective border controls as the vital factor in controlling and deterring illegal immigration."
'No amnesty'
Previously Immigration Minister Phil Woolas had said the mayor's call for amnesty was "naive" and would lead to more trafficking of people.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "The policy on an amnesty for illegal immigrants remains unchanged and is very clear - there will be no amnesty, those here illegally should go home.
"We have a proud tradition of offering sanctuary to those who truly need our help, but to grant an amnesty would create a significant pull factor to the UK and would undermine the asylum system as a whole."
According to the National Audit Office, the deportation of all illegal immigrants would cost the UK £4.7bn.
Since 1998 111,265 illegal entrants have been deported, at the cost to the UK of £11,000 per person.
allAfrica.com: South Africa: Country Urged to Show Refugees More Tolerance
Francis Hweshe
15 June 2009
Cape Town — CONSTANT public education campaigns are critical if South Africa is to avoid a repeat of last year's xenophobic attacks, warns the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' representative in the Western Cape.
Ignorance about refugees and asylum-seekers, said Dr Lawrence Mgbangson, was one of the main causes of xenophobic violence.
Refugee awareness programmes on television and community radios were crucial to combating xenophobia, and fostering tolerance.
In commemoration of World Refugee Month this month, his organisation, together with public groups, had drawn up a programme of activities to be staged across the province, said Mgbangson.
He urged South Africans and the government to work together to "create an atmosphere of tolerance, mutual respect and human rights".
More than 400 refugees in the Western Cape remain in places of safety, following the xenophobic attacks that displaced 20 000 in the province last year.
The refugees have been housed at the Blue Waters and Youngsfield camps.
The City of Cape Town has approached the Cape High Court to evict those living at Blue Waters. The Legal Resource Centre has stepped in to defend some of the refugees. The matter is pending.
Questioned about the progress being made by the UNHCR on relocating the refugees, Mgbangson said they were "moving forward - it's slow but steady".
Negotiations with the Department of Home Affairs, Mgbangson revealed, had led to 200 camp refugees starting the process of obtaining their documents.
Asked about the legal tussle, he said: "We are not against the law. The court will decide."
Mgbangson said conditions at the camp were unsuitable for human habitation.
About 450 blankets had been provided for the refugees to help cushion them from the winter weather.
Regarding any potential recurrence of the xenophobic violence, Mgbangson said he was "optimistic" that it would not happen again, but "conscious that it could happen again".
He said there were more than 11 million displaced people across Africa.
Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan were the major refugee-producing countries.
Wars, political and religious persecutions, famine and droughts were among the contributing factors.
allAfrica.com: Gambia: 31 Gambians Deported
Assan Sallah
15 June 2009
Banjul — 31 Gambians, last Friday afternoon, around 1:00pm, arrived at the Banjul International Airport, reportedly deported from Italy. Sources told the Daily Observer that the deportees were said to be illegal migrants who had been staying in Italy for some time now.
When contacted, the public relations officer of The Gambia Immigration Department, Commissioner Lamin Jatta, confirmed the story. He said that the deportees had arrived in Italy, after cruising through "the 'back way', with no documents on them." He added that these illegal migrants had been kept in a camp before being sent back to The Gambia.
PRO Jatta described this development as a normal routine which has been happening for many years. "Illegal migrants without any document in a foreign land are normally deported," he said. The Immigration PRO also informed the Daily Observer that the Immigration Department is helping these deportees to get back to their homes safely.
allAfrica.com: South Africa: Market Forces Part of Xenophobic Violence
15 June 2009
Johannesburg — The business acumen of foreign nationals, rather than xenophobia, is being named as the trigger that led to attacks against Somalis and other migrants in the South African port city of Cape Town.
In the aftermath of the violence that swept across the country in May 2008, killing more than 60 people and displacing tens of thousands of others, the City of Cape Town commissioned a report, An Audit of Spaza Shops in Khayelitsha, a township on the outskirts of town.
In an eerie reprise of those events, on 13 June 2009 Somali businessmen in Gugulethu township, in Cape Town, received letters telling them to leave the township within seven days, a day after the report was released.
On 15 June, Cape Town police called a meeting between Somali shopkeepers and their local counterparts to diffuse tension and thwart any repeat of the violence.
The report surveyed 214 locally owned and 138 foreign-owned spaza shops in Khayelitsha, a sprawling township established in 1983 by the apartheid government in an attempt to manage the migration of black people from rural areas to the city.
Khayelitsha was initially envisaged to accommodate 220,000 people, but the number has ballooned to nearly 10 times that, and has an unemployment rate of about 50 percent.
Apartheid planners ensured that Khayelitsha, like other townships, was divorced from South Africa's commercial mainstream by distance and poor transport systems, so spazas (informal shops) filled the vacuum, providing residents with basic goods from maize-meal to cigarettes, but often at higher prices.
The demise of apartheid has not altered the commercial dynamic of the township, but has seen a shift in demographics as African immigrants are drawn to there both by their socio-economic plight and the business opportunities that townships present.
In 2006, it was estimated that the spaza industry was responsible for about 4.7 percent of retail trade, or more than R9 billion (US$1.1 billion).
Township supermarkets
The report speculated that attacks on Somali-owned businesses were "ethnically motivated"; but "there are issues of pricing, consumer choice and the growth of supermarket-like spaza shops that has an impact on retail business in the area," it noted.
"Many spaza shops owned by Somali immigrants have evolved into mini-superettes [convenience stores], which tend to be preferred choice of consumers as they offer a wider range of products compared to an over-the-counter or through-the-window spaza shop."
Local spaza shop owners "were motivated by survival and would rather work for a company, should the option become available. Foreign spaza shop owners, on the other hand, were more innovative and envisaged growth in their businesses," the report commented.
The stark differences were seen in the start-up capital: locally-owned spaza shops averaged about R500 ($62.50) while non-nationals invested more than R3,000 ($375.00) and "remarkably, the majority of foreign spaza shop owners have started their businesses as a result of identifying an opportunity in the market."
The report said the approach by foreign-owned spaza shops to retail was illustrated in the lay-out of their shops, which were more reminiscent of the "7-11" approach, with a greater diversity of commodities on offer and cheaper prices.
"Foreign spaza shop owners had a wider range of products and services at lower prices. Foreign spaza shop owners conducted bulk buying through social networking and also accessed finance through these networks. This resulted in foreign spaza shop owners obtaining substantial discounts. As a result of this, local spaza shop owners were struggling to compete."
Cultural differences
The report said there were "cultural differences" that made foreign spaza owners more "collectivistic in nature", as opposed to the "individualistic" approach of locally owned shops.
The distinct differences between the two groups of business owners have resulted in different buying methods, where foreign spaza shop owners do collective buying and thereby qualify for bulk discounts, which impacts directly on pricing strategies
"The distinct differences between the two groups of business owners have resulted in different buying methods, where foreign spaza shop owners do collective buying and thereby qualify for bulk discounts, which impacts directly on pricing strategies."
The report highlighted local spaza shop owners' absence of book-keeping - as practiced by foreigners - which, apart from detailing the financial health of the business, was crucial to accessing finance.
Interviews with the Khayelitsha police at the time of the May 2008 "xenophobic violence" blamed criminal elements for the attacks on foreign traders.
However, the police also acknowledged that "tensions that exist between foreign and local spaza shop owners are ... [because] the spaza shop market is becoming increasingly competitive ... [so] local spaza shop owners ... [do not] compete effectively with foreign spaza shop owners in terms of price and changing customer preferences."
The report said there was a lack of information on government business programmes, but the City of Cape Town, in partnership with the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business, was providing business support programmes, such as entrepreneurial skills development, to Khayelitsha's small business owners.
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]
allAfrica.com: Angola: Home Ministry Upgrades Staff on Migration Issues
15 June 2009
Luanda — A seminar on "Introduction to Key Notions of Migration Management", aiming at upgrading the members of the National Police in the process of control and fight illegal immigration will be conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Minint) on June 17-18.
According to a communiqué issued by the institution, made available to Angop, the holding of the seminar has into account the organisation of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) that Angola will host next January.
The training action will be attended by employees of various government sectors that deal with fight and control of illegal immigration.
During the seminar, the participants will discuss matters such as "Migration Management", "Authority and responsibilities of the State", "Rights and duties of migrants", "Migration and health" and "Border management system".
The Independent: Languages test for suspect asylum-seekersJune 16, 2009
By David Hughes, Press Association
Asylum seekers claiming to come from Palestine or Kuwait will face being tested on their own language in a bid to weed out bogus applications under changes announced by ministers today.
Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said a "significant proportion" of Palestinian and Kuwaiti claims were actually from other nationalities.
The change follows a similar effort to tighten up restrictions on Somali asylum applications.
In a written statement to MPs, Mr Woolas said: "Language analysis carried out for some Somali asylum applicants demonstrates that significant proportions of those tested have claimed to be of a nationality, or from a region or grouping, that is not their own in order to try to gain residence in this country.
"We are aware that a significant proportion of Palestinian and Kuwaiti claims also are from other nationalities.
"This new authorisation will assist the Secretary of State to make decisions in individual Palestinian and Kuwaiti cases, and to ascertain the extent of abuse within these nationalities."
Mr Woolas said the Home Secretary could take a refusal to be tested into account when determining a case.
The new power will be reviewed in April 2010.
Greece arrests 126 sea boat immigrants - UPI.com
Published: June 15, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Greek authorities said Coast Guard boats and the French Zeppelin ship intercepted four vessels with 126 illegal immigrants in the Aegean Sea close to Turkey.
Boats of the Greek cost guard and European Union countries' ships are operating within the joint Frontex initiative to contain surges of illegal immigrants attempting to enter Western Europe from the sea, the Athens News Agency reported Monday.
During the weekend, the French Zeppelin ship and Greek boats stopped a boat with 32 immigrants, including four women, off the northern coast of Lesbos island, northwest of the Turkish port of Izmir.
In the sea northwest of Lesbos, the Greek boats intercepted two synthetic dinghies with oars that were carrying 60 people -- 45 men, seven women and eight children. A motor-boat with 34 people -- 24 men, four women and six children -- was stopped in the nearby area.
The illegal immigrants underwent medical checks and then were transported to the Greek Pagani immigration reception center, ANA said.
The report did not specify the nationalities of the immigrants.
República Dominicana, ante el reto de reordenar la inmigración
Cientos de miles de haitianos indocumentados, destinatarios de la regularización
IBAN CAMPO - Santo Domingo - 16/06/2009
A Franklin Almeyda, ministro del Interior y Policía de República Dominicana, le atraen las misiones imposibles. En el verano de 2006 logró la aplicación de un decreto para establecer límites de horario de cierre a bares y restaurantes en un país en el que la diversión nocturna es casi una obligación nacional.
Ahora quiere cambiar la frágil realidad inmigratoria de su país, marcada por la ausencia de estadísticas fiables sobre los extranjeros que viven en él, pero sobre todo en lo concerniente a la cantidad de haitianos que lo habitan, la gran mayoría de manera ilegal, principal foco de discordia cuando se analiza el tema migratorio.
Para provocar el cambio, el ministerio ha iniciado el debate en torno a una propuesta para registrar y regularizar a los extranjeros, legales e indocumentados.
Los cientos de miles de haitianos que viven sin papeles en República Dominicana —el rumor público habla de que, junto con los legales, suman en total cerca de millón y medio— serían los principales destinatarios de una iniciativa que sigue el ejemplo de otros países que han llevado a cabo procesos semejantes.
Algunas de esas experiencias se analizaron en el encuentro
internacional Políticas Migratorias y Experiencias en Procesos de Regularización, celebrado el 10 y 11 de junio en Santo Domingo, la capital del país, y al que asistieron representantes de 25 países.
Una de las dificultades para el proceso que se quiere aplicar en República Dominicana se palpa en la epidermis del país, especialmente sensible a la hora de hablar de la legalización de sus vecinos isleños. Lo que se plantea como la solución definitiva para enfrentarse a la debilidad en la aplicación de legislaciones migratorias tiene los visos de una carrera de obstáculos que el ministro Almeyda pretende sortear apelando a altas dosis de firmeza y actitud racional en detrimento de las posiciones emocionales.
El debate iniciado la pasada semana trata específicamente sobre el reglamento para aplicar la ley de migración. En él se habla, entre otras cosas, de establecer cuotas para la inmigración laboral, de cuidar los intereses de los emigrantes dominicanos, de los procesos de deportación y de "preparar y ejecutar el Plan Nacional de Registro y Regularización de los extranjeros", que se extenderá durante 36 meses a partir de su inicio.
Tomando como límite la promulgación de la nueva Constitución dominicana, en proceso de revisión en la Asamblea Nacional, todo extranjero que probase hasta dicho tope su residencia en República Dominicana por espacio de 10 años o más recibiría la residencia permanente y un documento válido por cuatro años renovable. Quienes demostrasen lo mismo por un periodo de entre cinco y 10 años obtendrían la residencia temporal, válida por dos años y sujeta a su cambio a permanente. Al resto se le reconoce un estatus de no residente con la entrega de un documento valedero por 60 días para turistas y por un año para trabajadores temporales, de acuerdo con la ley.
Si bien es cierto que República Dominicana enamora a los visitantes y no son pocos los que fijan su residencia en ella, también lo es que los extranjeros de otras nacionalidades diferentes a la haitiana suelen a estar legalizados. Y hasta se nacionalizan.
Según datos del ministro Almeyda, en los últimos cinco años, se nacionalizaron dominicanos 700 cubanos, 400 chinos, 400 estadounidenses y entre 100 y 200 colombianos y venezolanos: "Sólo 25 del total de nacionalizados fueron haitianos", afirmó.
El proceso de regularización involucrará en especial a los llegados del país vecino, generalmente mano de obra barata que trabaja en el sector de la construcción, en el campo y, últimamente, en la hostelería, así como en la venta callejera de frutas y comidas de cuestionable calidad sanitaria.
Hay que añadir a quienes cruzan para acudir a los hospitales públicos dominicanos. Las embarazadas llegan a representar la mitad de los casos atendidos por los médicos. Sus hijos, sin embargo, no son susceptibles de obtener una nacionalidad dominicana que niegan las disposiciones constitucionales actuales y venideras. Sólo podrán aspirar a inscribir a sus hijos en un Libro de Extranjería a título, exclusivamente, de constancia de nacimiento.
En la inauguración de la conferencia internacional mencionada, el presidente dominicano, Leonel Fernández, planteó "un ordenamiento, una forma de regularización al fenómeno migratorio que tiene que partir de la idea siempre del respeto a los derechos humanos". El ministro Franklin Almeyda está decidido a seguir esa línea. Pero no todos en el Gobierno lo ven así. El ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Carlos Morales Troncoso, cree que las regularizaciones "envían a quienes aspiran a inmigrar ilegalmente el mensaje de que pueden apostar a que ellos, con el tiempo, y tras una extendida permanencia, también le tumbarán el pulso a la ley". Además, "no resuelven el problema de la inmigración ilegal para siempre, y no impiden que la situación que corrigen vuelva a repetirse una y otra vez".
ekathimerini.com | Undercover officer explains how he trawls border looking for immigrants
Evros area has become Europe’s ‘hottest zone’ for illegal migrants looking to use Greece as a stepping stone
By Vasilis Kyriakoulis - Agence France-Presse
A veteran of Greece’s anti-immigration police, “Nick” has driven thousands of miles posing as a Turkish trucker, dodged an Albanian killer and was nearly shot by Greek border guards.
It’s all in a day’s work for the undercover officer who operates on Greece’s northeastern border with Turkey, a major smuggling route through which thousands of clandestine immigrants slip into the country every year, seeking a better future in the European Union.
ANA
A migrant gazes out at the port of Patras. A large number of illegal immigrants enter Greece at the Greek-Turkish border in the northeastern Evros region.
EU border watchdog Frontex calls the region delineated by the Evros River, Greece’s natural boundary with Turkey, “the hottest area of illegal immigration in Europe.”
Over 50 percent of some 82,000 migrants who crossed onto the continent last year came through this region, Frontex deputy executive director Gil Arias said during a joint border exercise on the Evros in May.
For the past five years, “Nick” has made this area his second home, clocking thousands of hours behind the wheel of police-issued freighters, posing as a long-haul trucker trying to score a little extra income.
He carries seven different cellphones – which ring incessantly – and assumes various Balkan nationalities to throw smugglers off the scent while brokering deals to transport migrants aboard his truck.
Big profits
“Sometimes I pretend to be Bulgarian, Albanian, Georgian or Turkish,” the officer said. “It can take up to six months to close a deal. I usually ask for 1,500 euros ($2,100) and the deal closes at 1,000-1,200 euros.”
Smugglers have a different price list: Africans and Asians pay around 8,000 euros ($11,000) on average for the trip to Greece, while migrants from China are charged 13,000 euros, though the cost is lower by sea, he said.
“In Greece, migrant smuggling is a business more profitable even than drug trafficking. Networks can earn up 120 million euros a month,” he said.
Most of the migrants say they want to get to France and Scandinavian countries, mainly Finland, “Nick” said.
The police made over 53,000 arrests in northern Greece last year, including some 500 caught as a result of “Nick’s” undercover activities. He hands the migrants he carries to the police, but helps fellow truck drivers evade arrest or land lighter court sentences to maintain his contacts inside Turkey.
Things are not always smooth. Once he didn’t go home for three months after hearing that an Albanian convict had put out word he wanted him dead. On another occasion, he was nearly shot by Greek border guards.
“Because of a cross-department blunder, I found myself lying on the ground with Greek border guards aiming their guns at my head,” he said.
“I tell you, by the time I could convince them that I’m a police officer, my heart had nearly leaped out of my chest.”
Around a year ago, senior police officers began discouraging the arrest of illegal immigrants because the country is running out of space to detain them.
The Greek Interior Ministry says it has spent over 10 million euros in the last four years to build a dozen new migrant holding centers for 3,800 people.
Yet more than 146,000 migrants were caught in the country last year, some of whom may have been in Greece for several years. This was higher than the 122,000 arrested in 2007 and a huge spike over the 45,000 arrested in 2004, according to Interior Ministry figures.
The problem is compounded by Turkey’s refusal to readmit migrants that crossed into Greece from its territory, despite a protocol signed between Athens and Ankara in 2001, the ministry says.
ekathimerini.com | Calls grow to curb immigration
PM to push issue at EU summit this week, as opposition ups the ante and coast guard struggles
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis yesterday telephoned his counterpart in the Czech Republic, which currently holds the European Union presidency, to press for greater EU support in curbing a seemingly relentless influx of illegal immigrants.
According to government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros, Karamanlis told his counterpart Jan Fischer that Greece cannot shoulder the burden of protecting the EU’s southeastern border. The PM is due to broach the issue at a summit in Brussels later this week.
Meanwhile, Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis called for municipal council members to forge a united front to tackle the capital’s burgeoning migrant population which is being blamed by some for spiraling crime that has led to a spike in far-right sentiment. Kaklamanis said swift consensus on this issue was crucial, “even if we must all compromise on some of our convictions.”
The leader of the main opposition PASOK party, George Papandreou, seemed less compromising in an article published in Sunday’s Kathimerini, in which he outlines an eight-point plan for “zero illegal immigration.” Papandreou condemns the government for having a “nonexistent policy” for immigration which has marginalized second generation migrants and failed to make a distinction between economic migrants and refugees.
Responding to criticism from other opposition parties, describing the military facilities slated for use as migrant reception centers as “concentration camps,” Antonaros said the ruling conservatives were being treated unfairly. “Two-and-a-half years ago we were being condemned by international bodies for having too few reception centers,” he said.
Meanwhile, the coast guard on Lesvos, where a reception center is full to bursting, detained a total of 126 illegal immigrants this weekend. The migrants were intercepted in four boats that had been heading toward the island from neighboring Turkey.
Pour dénoncer l'aide d'urgence, ils occupent un centre de requérants :: Le Courrier :: Quotidien suisse indépendant
Paru le Lundi 15 Juin 2009
MICHAËL RODRIGUEZ
Vaud VEVEY - Des militants du droit d'asile ont occupé un centre de requérants vendredi soir, avant d'être délogés par la police. Ils réclament l'abolition de l'aide d'urgence.
Les militants du droit d'asile haussent le ton contre le régime de l'aide d'urgence. Vendredi soir, sept membres du collectif «Droit de rester» ont occupé le centre de requérants de Vevey, alors qu'une trentaine de personnes manifestaient devant le bâtiment. Tous réclament la fin du rationnement des prestations sociales frappant les recalés de l'asile. «Aide d'urgence = torture», pouvait-on lire sur une banderole et sur les tracts des manifestants. Une autre action devrait avoir lieu cette semaine.
Paisible évacuation
Les visiteurs surprise avaient l'intention de prendre leurs quartiers deux ou trois jours dans le centre. Finalement, ils n'y seront restés qu'une poignée d'heures. Appelés par la direction du centre, cinq ou six agents de Police Riviera ont sommé les occupants de quitter les lieux. Il était alors un peu plus de 22 h, heure à laquelle le centre ferme ses portes aux visiteurs. Après avoir parlementé un moment avec la police, les militants ont accepté de sortir du bâtiment vers 23 h. L'Etablissement vaudois d'accueil des migrants (EVAM) ne portera pas plainte contre les occupants. «Nous n'allons pas mettre de l'huile sur le feu», explique sa porte-parole, Emmanuelle Marendaz Colle. Si elle juge «très bien que des citoyens suisses prennent la défense des migrants», la porte-parole de l'EVAM est en revanche irritée par les nombreuses «erreurs» contenues dans les tracts du collectif. Elle réfute notamment les critiques formulées sur l'accès aux soins médicaux et la nourriture dans les centres d'aide d'urgence.
Pétition lancée
Le collectif «Droit de rester», membre de la Coordination asile Vaud, a lancé dans la foulée une pétition en faveur des requérants déboutés et des personnes frappées de non-entrée en matière (NEM), qui sont au nombre de 600 environ dans le canton. Le texte demande l'abolition du régime précaire imposé à ces migrants, l'octroi de permis de séjour et la suppression de l'interdiction de travailler. Sur ce dernier point, le Conseil d'Etat vient de montrer qu'il est déterminé à ne rien faire (lire ci-contre).
La pétition a déjà circulé samedi à Vevey, où 200 signatures ont été récoltées en une journée, affirme le collectif. Accompagnés d'une quinzaine de requérants, les militants se sont installés dans un parc de la ville. «Nous avions demandé de pouvoir y camper pendant deux ou trois jours, relate Graziella de Coulon, membre de la Coordination asile. Mais le municipal de police (le socialiste Lionel Girardin, ndlr) ne nous a pas donné l'autorisation.» Le collectif envisage de mener d'autres actions dans le courant de la semaine. Au départ, il aurait souhaité occuper une église plutôt qu'un centre de requérants, mais les négociations avec les responsables protestants et catholiques ont avorté. Graziella de Coulon leur reproche d'avoir d'abord accepté, puis de s'être rétractés. «Nous avons donné une réponse positive, rétorque Pascale Gilgien, conseillère synodale de l'Eglise évangélique réformée. Mais nous voulions qu'un groupe de travail commun soit créé, afin de savoir où et comment se ferait cette occupation. Or la Coordination asile n'a pas donné suite à notre demande.» I
Management of asylum applications report | Parliament News
16 June 2009
Public Accounts Committee today publishes a report looking at the UK Border Agency's management of asylum applications.
* Report: Management of Asylum Applications by the UK Border Agency
* Public Accounts Committee
Edward Leigh MP, Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, today said:
"It is in the interest of neither applicants for asylum nor the taxpayer that applications for asylum take a long time to be concluded. The new programme for managing applications, the New Asylum Model, has brought a lot of improvements to the management of new cases. But the process of coming to decisions on whether to grant asylum is still too slow. Following a surge in applications in 2007, the backlog of cases where a decision had not yet been made doubled in a year, to 8,700 in the second quarter of 2008.
"Over and above this backlog, there is the one of existing ‘legacy’ cases which predated the New Asylum Model. It is welcome that the Home Office has given a firm commitment to this Committee that it will meet its target of concluding all of these legacy cases by 2011, especially since some of these old cases might be difficult to resolve.
"Giving priority to the removal of foreign national prisoners has reduced the amount of detention space available for failed asylum applicants. The result is that few failed asylum applicants are yet being removed from the UK under the New Asylum Model. The Home Office is certainly finding it difficult to achieve the tipping point, where more failed applicants are removed than there are unfounded applications.
"In order to free up detention spaces, the Home Office must review all foreign national prisoner cases at the start of their sentences, to prepare for the immediate removal of those recommended for deportation on their release from custody. The enforced removal of a failed asylum applicant is also often made very difficult by obstacles outside the Home Office’s control. The Department needs to work with the Courts, foreign government and other bodies to make the process of enforced removal more tractable."
Mr Leigh was speaking as the Committee published its 28th report of this Session which, on the basis of evidence from the Home Office, examined its progress to date, and on the obstacles to faster, more accurate completion of cases.
In 2006, our predecessors published a critical report on the shortcomings in the removals system, making wide-ranging recommendations. Revisiting the subject of asylum applications and removals some three years on, we are pleased to note that the Home Office (the Department) has responded positively and progress has been made. The Department has implemented the New Asylum Model, whereby a Case Owner manages all new asylum cases from application to conclusion, at which stage the applicant is either allowed to stay in the UK or returned to their country of origin. We are also pleased to note that, as a direct result of implementing our recommendations, the Department also established a separate process to clear the backlog of 400,000–450,000 legacy cases unresolved at the introduction of the New Asylum Model.
The New Asylum Model has resulted in the Department reaching an initial decision more quickly and in cases being concluded faster than in 2006. We also have the Department’s firm assurance that the legacy cases will be cleared by 2011.
Amongst the many cases awaiting completion, there are undoubtedly many people who genuinely need humanitarian protection because they are fleeing oppression, as well as those with more tenuous claims to asylum. The Department still faces significant challenges, however, in bringing these cases to a prompt conclusion. Faster, more accurate completion of cases reduces both uncertainty for the applicant and the cost to the tax payer. The Department is halfway through its programme of stepped improvements in the time taken to conclude cases. Removal poses a challenge. It will be another four years before the Department has the total of 4,000 detention spaces that it needs to increase removals to optimum levels, and before its new IT system is fully operational. The Department also needs to work with the Courts, foreign governments and other bodies to bring about the legal changes and diplomatic solutions needed to resolve obstacles to removal that lie outside its control.
timesofmalta.com - Turkish visa applications for Malta visits rising fastMonday, 15th June 2009 - 12:54CET
The number of visa applications in Turkey for travel to Malta has risen to some 50 per week since a Consulate General for Malta was opened in Istanbul, the Foreign Ministry said.
The Consul General, Simon Pullicino, was appointed three months ago and has since boosted promotion for Malta, with tourism posters now featuring in all metro stations in Istanbul.
The ministry said most visa applications were from young people wishing to learn English or follow tertiary education in Malta.
Mr Pullicino last week made a courtesy call on the Governor of Istanbul, Muammar Guler at the Bab-i-ali (Supreme Gate)Palace overlooking the entrance to the Golden Horn.
The Governor congratulated the Consul General on his appointment and welcomed the decision by the Maltese authorities to appoint a career Consul General in Istanbul. He was sure this would consolidate the excellent relations between both countries and to stimulate trade, cultural and maritime exchanges between both countries.
timesofmalta.com - Escaped migrant caught with false passport at airportMonday, 15th June 2009 - 13:19CET
An immigrant from the Ivory Coast who escaped from a detention camp last night was caught at the airport trying to leave using a false passport.
Stephen Kybrene was arrested along with Maswell Asiadu, 29 of Ghana, who is resident in an open centre.
Both were taken to court accused of making use of false passports and jailed for eight months and five months suspended for three years respectively.
During the hearing, counsel for Kybrene said the migrant had not wanted to break the law, and had only wanted to get away because he saw no future for himself in Malta.
timesofmalta.com - Refugees leave for the USMonday, 15th June 2009 - 14:34CET
A group of 10 refugees from Somalia and Eritrea left Malta today to begin a new life in the United States. Since the U.S. Embassy began its permanent refugee resettlement programme in May 2008, over 260 refugees have been resettled to the U.S.
Jason Davis, Chargé d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy, said that the refugee resettlement programme showed the continuing commitment of the United States to help ease the burden that migration had placed on Malta, as well as its recognition of the enormous challenges and dangers that many of the migrants had faced.
"The Programme's success is a tribute to continued hard work on the part of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, and the United States government, as well as many others here in Malta who have dedicated themselves to improving the lives of refugees in need of humanitarian assistance," Mr Davis said.
He explained that refugees are assigned a sponsor agency in the U.S. that provides initial services such as housing, food, and clothing, as well as referral to medical care, employment services, and other support services during the transition period to self-sufficiency. These services are provided in order to facilitate refugees with the process of integration and cultural assimilation.
EU conference on migration and integration kicks off in Berlin | Europe | Deutsche Welle | 15.06.200915.06.2009
A boatload of migrants heading to Spain from Canary Islands
How well is Europe coping with the integration of its foreign residents? A two-day EU conference in Berlin will discuss methods to monitor migratory trends within Europe.
For decades the nations of the expanded European Union, now comprising 27 countries, have wrangled over the integration of the EU’s 30 million foreign residents. The question: how to deal with those who try to enter what human rights advocates call Fortress Europe?
At the Berlin conference the catchwords will be “monitoring” and “benchmarking,” in other words, how to measure the success or failure of efforts to integrate so-called “legal migrants” across Europe.
Residents with foreign passports make up about five percent of the EU’s total population of nearly 500 million. Luxembourg excels, with 38 percent of its population listed as foreigners. Germany is in mid-field at 8.9 percent or about seven-million foreign residents.
Foreign student being showed some technologyBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Immigration policies diverge widely within the EU
The German Federal Statistics Office pointed out recently, however, that the underlying trend is far greater. It counted those with “migratory backgrounds,” including persons who have adopted German citizenship and children raised in families with origins abroad. The count soared to 15 million, or more than 18 percent of Germany’s total population of 82 million.
Since the 1980s, go-it-alone policies pursued by individual nations have been superseded by an EU Commission drive to coordinate a patchwork of policies on asylum and integration under a so-called Global Approach to Migration. Adopted in 2007, its measures range from promoting language acquisition and job skills among newcomers, to worker mobility within the EU’s visa-free internal borders, to Frontex, the EU agency which patrols waters off northern Africa.
Frontex often draws criticism from non-governmental organizations. Scenes of would-be migrants struggling ashore from sunken boats and recovered bodies prompted EU Commission President Jose Manuel Borroso last week to call for a summit of EU Mediterranean states.
Aging EU will need younger workers
The head of the EU’s Social and Economic Committee Mario Sepi concedes that the demographics of an ageing EU population have also prompted Europe’s nations to boost their efforts to successfully integrate foreigners. By 2050 a third of the EU’s population will be 65 years or older, requiring many younger skilled workers including foreigners, and as taxpayers, to fill the gap.
“The European model of integration is a very broad model," Sepi said. "And, if we’re unable to integrate new citizens into the EU, then we wouldn’t be true to what our message to the world is: integration at (the) national, social and economic levels.”
Interior Minister Wolfgang SchaeubleBildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: German Interior Minister Schaeuble puts the onus on immigrants
Ahead of the EU’s Berlin conference, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Federal Interior Minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, of her conservative Christian Democratic Union party (CDU), praised the integrative efforts of more than two million so-called Russian-Germans who have resettled in Germany since the collapse of the former Soviet Union.
Schaeuble also insisted that potential immigrants had to make the first steps.
“If you know nothing about where you live or where you’re going to and if you don’t have a basic knowledge of the language, then you’ll have only a small chance of making it in the new country.”
Don't exclude skilled migrants
But associations representing foreigners in Germany and the DGB trade union federation have advocated an alternative migration concept for 2009, Germany’s super election year. One group, Pro-Asylum, says recruitment of skilled migrants should not lead to situations where refugees find it increasingly difficult to obtain asylum in the European Union.
Experts, including staff at the SINUS social research institute in Heidelberg, say the migratory policies and trends across the EU’s 27 nations are very diverse. Even the terminology “migrant” and “foreigner” are interpreted differently from country-to-country.
In a recent study, SINUS researchers Carsten Wippermann and Berthold Bodo Flaig dismissed negative cliches of supposedly uneducated Gastarbeiter or "guest workers" recruited by Germany in the 1960s, mostly from Turkey.
German integration
Three decades of research had instead shown that many migrants in Germany are educationally and vocationally advanced, with a strong work ethic and modern attitudes, they said.
"Among a broad cross-section of the migrant population there is a high degree of cultural adaption and willingness to integrate. Many have a bicultural self-definition. That means, they don’t even regard themselves as 'migrants' but as an obvious part of German society," the researchers said.
Those results are reflected in a new study by Germany’s Allensbach research institute. It says 69 percent of migrants feel comfortable in Germany; and 58 percent regard themselves as part of German society. Amongst Turkish migrants, however, a quarter said they still felt as if they were foreign or different.
Ipj/EPD/KNA/bpb/APuZ/Eurostats
Editor: Jennifer Abramsohn
Sulla mina immigrati troppi slogan e poche idee - Il Sole 24 ORE13 giugno 2009
di Alberto Alesina
In un periodo di forte recessione con disoccupazione in aumento, ci si poteva aspettare una vittoria della sinistra, teoricamente più attenta alle esigenze dei più poveri e dei disoccupati. Invece le elezioni europee di domenica scorsa le hanno vinte le destre, in qualche caso xenofobe. In Italia ha vinto più la Lega che il Popolo della libertà, per non parlare del Partito democratico. L'interpretazione è chiara: gli europei si sentono abbastanza tranquilli per quanto riguarda la crisi perché protetti da un welfare state già generoso (altrove meglio che in Italia) mentre ciò di cui sono veramente preoccupati è l'immigrazione. Finché il centrosinistra europeo non dimostrerà di avere qualche idea concreta su come affrontare questo problema, o almeno di riconoscerlo come tale, è destinato a un continuo declino.
Ma non è solo per il futuro della sinistra che non si può più aspettare a comprendere e affrontare il fenomeno immigrazione e il fatto che l'Europa, Italia compresa, sta diventando sempre più multietnica. Non possiamo lasciare che il problema sia trattato a slogan: da una parte rozze chiusure, dall'altra una Chiesa cattolica che aprirebbe le porte a tutti. Anche se comprensibile da un punto di vista morale, ciò è impossibile in pratica, dato che vi sono 700 milioni di africani potenziali migranti a poche miglia dalle nostre coste.
Bisogna partire dai dati e raccoglierne altri. Gli immigrati legali in Italia producono la loro fetta di reddito nazionale in misura più che proporzionale al loro numero. Molti di loro sono al Nord, e nonostante le grida della Lega aiutano l'economia del Centro Nord che da anni è vicina alla piena occupazione, e in cui molti lavori non sarebbero svolti comunque dagli italiani. Fra l'altro, in anni recenti i salari degli immigrati sono scesi molto di più della media. È inutile che ci si illuda, come fa la sinistra, che solo per il fatto che una persona diventi italiana, francese o olandese si assimili immediatamente e che l'idea di "stato-nazione" prevalga come per magia. Difficoltà di rapporti tra gruppi etnici continueranno a lungo, come dimostra la storia degli Stati Uniti, dove tutti si sentono americani ma anche, almeno in parte, italiani, irlandesi, latinoamericani, cinesi, neri. I paesi europei sono storicamente lontani dal melting pot, ma saranno sempre più multietnici e in parte già lo sono.
Qualche tempo fa la Lega propose classi differenziate per immigrati, per facilitarne l'apprendimento dell'italiano. È una buona idea? Non lo so, ma so che la risposta dovrebbe venire da studi e da esperimenti in cui alcuni bambini vengano messi in classi differenziate e altri no, per poi valutare i risultati. Così si studia un problema sociale e così si trovano politiche adeguate. Invece il dibattito procede a colpi di slogan. Da una parte (sinistra e Chiesa) un'alzata di scudi preconcetta come se questa fosse una proposta necessariamente discriminatoria. Dall'altra posizioni rozze che finiscono con l'alimentare i sospetti.
Spesso l'immigrazione clandestina e quella legale sono mescolate in un unico discorso, come si trattasse in fondo dello stesso fenomeno. Non lo sono. Politiche, anche vigorose, di eliminazione dell'immigrazione illegale sono perfettamente compatibili con politiche di apertura all'immigrazione legale in funzione delle necessità del mercato del lavoro, in un paese, fra l'altro dall'andamento demografico assai avverso. Sappiamo quale tipo e quanti immigranti il nostro mercato del lavoro può assorbire? Studiamolo.
Le elezioni europee confermano ciò che da tempo si sospettava. Il problema dell'immigrazione in Europa rischia di esplodere se le forze più ragionevoli di centrodestra e centrosinistra non lo portano al centro delle loro analisi e di proposte concrete e realistiche.
13 giugno 2009
ekathimerini.com | Focus on immigrationFocus on immigration
Responding to growing pressure to tackle a burgeoning problem with illegal immigration, Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos yesterday heralded the imposition of tougher sentences to discourage human smugglers and the creation of reception centers where undocumented migrants would be held for up to 12 months until their fate is decided.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis sent a letter to Jan Fischer, his counterpart in the Czech Republic, which currently holds the European Union’s rotating presidency, asking for the union’s full support in curbing the migration flows that have hit countries like Greece, Italy and Spain particularly hard.
“The big issue that Greece and other EU countries face is the uncontrolled entry of illegal immigrants at Europe’s borders, mainly through people smugglers,” Pavlopoulos said after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, noting that traffickers would face felony rather than misdemeanor charges which carry heavy jail terms.
The minister added that he would press EU officials at a summit next week for the signing of repatriation agreements with migrants’ countries of origin and urge Turkey to honor a bilateral pact with Greece for migrants’ repatriation.
Pavlopoulos added that the government would push ahead with stalled plans to build a mosque for the capital’s Muslims in the central Votanikos area and a Muslim cemetery in Schisto, western Attica.
The government’s proposals attracted strong opposition criticism. George Papandreou, the leader of Socialist PASOK, described the measures as “sketchy and inadequate” and proposed instead an eight-point plan foreseeing the boosting of border controls and a drive to upgrade parts of the capital that have turned into ghettos for migrants. The Communist Party accused the government of seeking to imprison migrants in “concentration camps.”
Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Pavlopoulos insisted that the new measures were not a reaction to the government’s losses in last Sunday’s European Parliament elections and to the gains made by the far-right Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS).
San Francisco at Crossroads Over Immigration - NYTimes.comJune 13, 2009
By JESSE McKINLEY
SAN FRANCISCO — In the debate over illegal immigration, San Francisco has proudly played the role of liberal enclave, a so-called sanctuary city where local officials have refused to cooperate with enforcement of federal immigration law and undocumented residents have mostly lived without fear of consequence.
But over the last year, buffeted by several high-profile crimes by illegal immigrants and revelations of mismanagement of the city’s sanctuary policy, San Francisco has become less like its self-image and more like many other cities in the United States: deeply conflicted over how to cope with the fallout of illegal immigration.
At the center of the turnaround is a new law enforcement policy focused on under-age offenders who are in this country illegally. Under the policy, minors brought to juvenile hall on felony charges are questioned about their immigration status. And if they are suspected of being here illegally, they are reported to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency for deportation, regardless of whether they are eventually convicted of a crime.
“We went from being one of the more progressive counties in the country to probably one of the least, and the most draconian,” said Abigail Trillin, the managing attorney with Legal Services for Children, a nonprofit legal group. “It’s been a total turnaround.”
Mayor Gavin Newsom, who ordered the new policy, disputes that characterization and ticks off a list of policies that remain immigrant friendly: the issuing of identification cards to residents regardless of legal status, the promotion of low-cost banking and the city’s longstanding opposition to immigration raids.
“I’m balancing safety and rights,” Mr. Newsom said. “And I’m taking the arrows.”
The policy was put in place last summer amid a series of embarrassing revelations about the city’s handling of illegal minors and even as reports arose of several serious crimes committed by illegal residents. The policy has led not only to dozens of juveniles in deportation proceedings, but also to criticism from the city’s public defender and members of its Board of Supervisors, which is threatening to relax it next month.
“I think the point of sanctuary is that you protect people and treat people the same unless they engage in some felony crime,” said David Campos, a county supervisor who came illegally to the United States from his native Guatemala when he was 14.
The new approach has pitted a growing coalition of immigrants rights groups against Mr. Newsom, who is running for governor in a state where immigrants, particularly Latinos, can be vital to being elected.
Mr. Newsom defends the policy as an effort to bring the city’s juvenile protocol in line with that for adult illegal immigrants, who have always been reported to federal authorities if they are accused of a felony.
But immigration advocates say the policy has too often swept up juveniles who are in this country illegally but who are innocent or held on minor charges, a list that includes young men like Roberto, 14, who has lived in the United States since he was 2.
Roberto, whose last name is being withheld at the request of his parents who are also in the country illegally, was handed over to immigration authorities last fall after he took a BB gun to school to show off to friends. He spent Christmas at a juvenile facility in Washington State and is now facing deportation to Mexico, where he was born.
The experience left Roberto shaken. “I was feeling really scared,” he said in an interview here.
Supporters of the new crackdown say that Roberto’s case is unrepresentative and that the majority of youths turned over to the immigration authorities have engaged in serious crimes, including those associated with the practice by Honduran drug gangs in San Francisco of using minors as dealers.
“A lot of them have histories; a lot of them are second, third chances,” Mr. Newsom said. “This is not as touchy feely as some people may want to make it.”
Mr. Newsom says he still supports the sanctuary ordinance, which grew out of worries in the 1980s about the deportation of Central Americans to war-torn regions. Made city law in 1989, the policy forbids city agencies to use resources to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law or information gathering.
While proponents say such policies help the police by making immigrant communities — often suspicious of the authorities — more comfortable with reporting crimes, critics say San Francisco’s policy had been stretched to extremes, including the practice of occasionally flying some offenders back to their home countries rather than cooperating with immigration authorities.
Mr. Newsom says he discovered and stopped that practice in May 2008, and quickly ordered a review. Juvenile referrals began shortly thereafter and were formalized as policy in August.
In the interim, however, The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a group of teenage Honduran crack dealers who had been sent to a group home simply walked away from confinement.
A second event was more serious, when a father and two sons driving home from a picnic were killed in a case of mistaken identity in June 2008. The police later charged Edwin Ramos, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador and suspected gang member who had had run-ins with the San Francisco police as a juvenile but had not been turned over to the immigration authorities.
At the same time, San Francisco found itself under criminal investigation by the United States attorney for the Northern District of California, and city officials were eager to show that their city was not a lawless haven for illegal-immigrant criminals.
“If we start harboring criminals as a sanctuary city, this entire system is in peril,” Mr. Newsom said.
For their part, immigration advocates say they are not asking the city to shelter felonious youths from deportation. The problem, they say, is the point of contact: at arrest, rather than after any sort of legal adjudication.
“Even if you’re undocumented, you have the right to due process,” said Jeff Adachi, the city’s public defender.
The federal authorities, meanwhile, have been pleasantly surprised that the new policy has resulted in more than 100 referrals.
“We are now getting routine referrals,” said Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for the immigration agency.
The most serious challenge to the policy is likely to come in July, when the Board of Supervisors is expected to take up a proposal that would apply the policy only to illegal juveniles found in court to have committed a felony. The measure’s sponsor, Mr. Campos, said he expected it to pass.
Such an ordinance would not help Roberto, who is still waiting to plead his case to an immigration judge. He said he had already learned a valuable lesson.
“I will never bring anything to school again,” he said.
Gaddafi visit to Italy amid protest against countries' 'illegal migration' agreement | Amnesty International
12 June 2009
Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Gaddafi concludes his three-day visit to Italy on Friday, amid criticism from human rights groups of the irregular migration control co-operation between the two countries and attempts by Italy to "contract out" to Libya its obligations to provide protection to refugees and asylum seekers.
Amnesty International has called on both countries to make human rights an integral part of migration control policies and to uphold the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants.
In August 2008, both countries agreed a Treaty of Friendship, Partnership and Co-operation, including provision for bilateral efforts to combat "illegal migration" through joint patrolling of the sea.
As part of the treaty, Italy has said it will compensate Libya for its 30-year occupation. The $5bn (£3bn) package involves construction projects, student grants and pensions for Libyan soldiers who served with the Italians during the Second World War.
In return, Libya has agreed, amongst other things, to tighten control of its territorial and international waters and accept disembarkation on its soil of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees intercepted at sea by Italian vessels. Italy has been reported to have also undertaken to provide resources, including technology for control of migrant flows through the southern borders of Libya.
"Italy and Libya should grant protection to those fleeing persecution and conflict, not treat them as mere commodities in deals which aim at avoiding international obligations with regards to the treatment of migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees," said Amnesty International. "Co-operation between the two countries cannot in effect be 'contracting out' to Libya the management of migration flows, especially not when Libya has a poor record when it comes to the treatment of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.”
In 2008, there were allegations of the torture and other ill-treatment of refugees and asylum-seekers and migrants; which the Libyan authorities failed to investigate. Refugees and asylum-seekers were not afforded protection as required by international law, as Libya has no functioning asylum system.
Against this backdrop, Italy has said it will forcibly return individuals setting off from Libya who are intercepted before they reach Italian shores.
On 6 May, three vessels with an estimated 227 third-country nationals on board sent out distress calls while passing about 50 miles south of the Italian island of Lampedusa. A dispute between the Maltese and Italian government over who had responsibility may have delayed rescue operations.
Eventually, two Italian coastguard vessels took the migrants to Tripoli in Libya, without stopping in an Italian port. The Italian Minister of the Interior Roberto Maroni was reported to have called it "an historical achievement after one year of bilateral negotiations with Libya."
Further interceptions and returns have occurred: according to official information from the Ministry of the Interior in Italy, between 6 and 11 May, around 500 individuals including those from Somalia, Eritrea and other Sub-Saharan African countries were returned to Libya after being intercepted by Italian vessels at sea.
The actions, however, constituted a breach of Italy's obligations, including the duty not to send individuals to a country where they are at risk of persecution (the principle of non refoulement) and to provide access to a fair and satisfactory asylum procedure. These obligations stem from the fact that these individuals were under the effective control of the Italian authorities even though they did not step foot on Italian soil.
The UN refugee agency criticized these actions and urged Italy "to ensure that people rescued at sea and in need of international protection receive full access to territory and asylum procedures."
On 14 May, the Italian government handed over to Libya three patrol boats to monitor its Mediterranean coastline in joint operations with the Italian Navy. A further three boats have been promised.
From 15-23 May, a human rights fact-finding team from Amnesty International visited Libya - the first such visit since 2004.
During their time in Libya, Amnesty International delegates were only allowed to pay a brief visit to the Misratah Detention Centre, some 200 km from Tripoli, in which between 600 and 700 alleged irregular migrants mostly from other African countries are held in severely overcrowded conditions.
Many have been detained since they were intercepted while seeking to make their way to Italy or other countries in southern Europe.
Those held at Misratah may include refugees fleeing persecution, including Eritrean and Somali nationals; but as Libya has no asylum procedure and is not a party to the UN Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, foreign nationals, including those in need of international protection, may find themselves outside the protection of the law.
There is also virtually no opportunity for detainees to lodge complaints of torture and other ill-treatment to competent judicial authorities or to challenge the grounds of their detention. Some of the Eritrean nationals, who comprise a sizeable proportion of those detained at Misratah, told Amnesty International that they had been held there for two years.
In its meetings with government officials, Amnesty International expressed concern about the detention and alleged ill-treatment of hundreds, possibly thousands, of individuals whom the authorities assume to be irregular migrants, and urged them to put in place proper procedures to identify asylum seekers and refugees and afford them appropriate protection.
Amnesty International also urged the Libyan authorities to cease forcible returns of individuals to their countries of origin where they might be at risk of serious human rights violations, and at the very least to find a better alternative to detention for those individuals whom they are not able to return to their countries of origin for this reason.
timesofmalta.com - Immigrant jailedSaturday, 13th June 2009 - 19:16CET
A resident at the Marsa Open Centre was jailed for 13 months and fined €116.70 after he was found guilty of damaging property.
Ethiopian Ismael Obssa Hussein, 27, was charged with breaking glass and damaging windows at the complex, being in possession of a knife without the necessary license, insulting others, breaching the peace and attacking others.
He was also accused of being a relapser.
timesofmalta.com - Maltese and immigrants unite in walk against racismSaturday, 13th June 2009 - 21:44CET
Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas
Maltese and immigrants united in a walk against racism and violence in Paceville this evening. The message of the walk was that racism is unacceptable.
The walk, organised by Graffitti, included the participation of a number of non-governmental organisations, the General Workers' Union and Alternattiva Demokratika.
The NGOs included the Forum Zaghzagh Laburisti, the Forum for Justice and Cooperation, the Jesuit Refugee Service (Malta), Inizjamed, Kopin, Koperattiva Kummerc Gust, Migrants' Solidarity Movement, Third World Group and Zminijietna.
Otras tres personas trabajaban ilegalmente en la panificadora en la que un hombre perdió el brazo en Gandia - Yahoo! Noticias
viernes, 12 de junio, 13.27
Europa Press
Otras tres personas trabajaban ilegalmente junto al inmigrante que perdió el brazo izquierdo con una máquina de amasar en una panificadora del polígono Real de Gandia (Valencia) el pasado 28 de mayo y que supuestamente fue abandonado por su jefe unos 50 metros antes de llegar al hospital porque carecía de contrato de trabajo, según informó el delegado del Gobierno en la Comunitat, Ricardo Peralta.
Así, el delegado manifestó que por las actuaciones iniciales practicadas "parece que este trabajador no era el único extranjero que carecía de afiliación y alta en la seguridad social" en la empresa, ya que había "tres personas más en esas condiciones".
Peralta señaló asimismo que le consta que esta mañana se iba a registrar la solicitud de regularización, trámite imprescindible, recordó, porque no se puede conceder de oficio, y agregó que existe "la mejor predisposición" por parte del Gobierno una vez que ésta se presente.
En cuanto a la situación de la fábrica, indicó que "el mismo día en que se produjeron los hechos se personó la inspección de trabajo en el local y empezaron las actuaciones", al igual que los Cuerpos y Fuerzas de Seguridad del Estado, actuaciones que han proseguido.
COMPARECENCIA ANTE INSPECCION
De este modo, afirmó que inicialmente "se dictaminaron medidas de paralización de determinados equipos, algunos de los cuales habían sido manipulados por la empresa, y se cortaron otros equipos que guardaban relación con el suministro eléctrico que no ofrecían garantías y se citó a la empresa para comparecer ante la propia Inspección de trabajo y continuar las actuaciones", comparecencia que ya se ha producido, avanzó.
No obstante, señaló que no se paralizó la actividad de la empresa en su conjunto porque algunas operaciones no entrañaban riesgos.
Por ello, señaló que se ha producido una respuesta adecuada ante una conducta "que no se puede consentir de ningún modo" y emplazó a transmitir la "plena confianza en el funcionamiento de las instituciones", al tiempo que garantizó que "todo el peso de la ley, sin lugar a dudas, va a recaer en los autores de unos hechos en la medida que en los ámbitos correspondientes, judiciales o administrativos, se confirme".
Por otro lado, se refirió al inmigrante sin papeles que salvó a una anciana en un incendio en Valencia y calificó su actuación de "especialmente ejemplar", de la que el Gobierno sacará "las conclusiones oportunas", avanzó.
El Gobierno regulariza al empleado boliviano que perdió el brazo en un accidente - Yahoo! Noticias
viernes, 12 de junio, 16.04
AFP
El Gobierno anunció este viernes la regularización, "por razones extraodinarias", del trabajador boliviano en situación ilegal que perdió el brazo por un accidente laboral en una panificadora de Gandía (Valencia), cuyo propietario abandonó al herido cerca de un hospital y luego tiró el miembro amputado a la basura.
En la rueda de prensa posterior al Consejo de Ministros, la vicepresidenta María Teresa Fernández de la Vega también reveló que han enviado a la fiscalía un informe de los inspectores de trabajo que señala "graves deficiencias de seguridad e higiene" en la panificadora. Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) de Valencia denunció el jueves al empresario.
En su página de Internet, el sindicato afirma que, el pasado 28 de mayo, el boliviano de 33 años Franns Rilles Melgar Vargas estaba trabajando cuando, mientras manipulaba la masa de pan, quedó atrapado por una máquina en movimiento. Tras lograr detenerla, se dio cuenta de que le había amputado el brazo.
La víctima, que sigue en el hospital, trabajaba en esa empresa desde hacía dos años "con jornadas de 12 horas diarias, sin contrato y por un sueldo de 23 euros al día", según CCOO. Franns fue abandonado a 100 metros del hospital Francesc de Borja de Gandía por su empleador, que luego "regresó a la fábrica, limpió la sangre y tiró el brazo a un contenedor de basura", explicó el sindicato.
Una vez en el hospital, los médicos constataron que era imposible recuperar el brazo seccionado para intentar reimplantarlo. La Guardia Civil encontró el miembro amputado en un contenedor, según CCOO, que considera lo ocurrido como una "prueba más que fehaciente de la actitud del empresario, que después de limpiar la máquina y deshacerse del contenido, continuó trabajando", añadió el sindicato.
timesofmalta.com - Migrants captured after Safi camp escapeMonday, 15th June 2009 - 07:50CET
The Detention Service has recaptured 10 migrants who escaped from Safi detention camp last night, sources said.
Another three are still believed to be on the run.
The search was conducted by the Detention Service assisted by the AFM and the police.
No further details were immediately available.
Immigration Spending Millions On RepatriationJune 11th, 2009
By ROGAN SMITH
The Department of Immigration has spent more than $5.2 million over the past five years on repatriation exercises, according to Immigration State Minister Branville McCartney.
The government also announced yesterday that 2,256 illegal immigrants were repatriated for the January to May 2009 period.
According to Minister McCartney, for the 2004/2005 period, the government spent $639,801 on repatriation exercises, for the 2005/2006 period, the government spent $801,832, for the 2006/2007 period, the government spent $986,620, for the 2007/2008 period, the government spent $1,337,136 and for the 2008/2009 period the government spent $1,453,201.
Immigration officials have long admitted that repatriations are very expensive and absorb much of the department’s budget.
"We will continue to repatriate as quickly as possible. Where persons are found on certain islands, they will be repatriated directly from those islands," Mr. McCartney said.
"The apprehension exercise of illegal immigrants is one of our greatest challenges, amidst its high level of controversy because of the public and the media at times. However, the Immigration Department continues to persist and be courageous in its relentless effort to rid The Bahamas of all illegal immigrants."
The minister was giving his contribution to the 2009/2010 budget debate in the House of Assembly Wednesday.
During his contribution, Minister McCartney also sought to set the record straight on a few misconceptions regarding his department’s investigative efforts.
"It is important to note that our officers investigate both blue and white collar infractions against our immigration laws. We all know of the construction worker, the maid, plumber, carpenter and persons in assorted sales business such as restaurants or clothing stores who are often arrested for infractions against immigration laws," he said.
"Still the public should be aware that our investigations often take us to banks, hotels and business houses where magistrates, chefs, sales managers and bankers and others have arrested as well. Essentially, no illegal foreign national, blue or white collar worker is exempt from immigration control. Wherever they are found in breach of our immigration laws, where the evidence exists, we will arrest and prosecute them to the full extent of the law."
According to January to May 29, 2009 statistics, 121 illegal immigrants have been charged in court for working illegally in The Bahamas. Several Bahamians have also been charged and convicted on various infractions, including employing illegal immigrants, knowingly assisting in illegal landing or possessing forged documents.
Blog of Rights: Official Blog of the American Civil Liberties Union » Private Prisons for Immigrants Lack Accountability, Oversight
(Originally posted on AJC.com)
On March 11, a 39-year-old man held in detention at the Stewart Detention Center, a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in southwest Georgia, died at a hospital in Columbus.
To this day, the immediate cause of Roberto Martinez Medina’s death remains unclear (a press release pronounced the cause of death as “apparent natural causes”).
Last month, Leonard Odom, 37, died at the Wheeler County Correctional Facility in south-central Georgia.
Both facilities are operated by Corrections Corp. of America, which has a contract with the Department of Homeland Security to operate the Stewart center and one with the Georgia Department of Corrections to operate the one in Wheeler County.
The DOC has not released additional information about the death of Odom, due to an ongoing investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
What sets apart the deaths of these two men held at CCA-operated facilities is the difference in official responses.
In the case of the death at the immigration detention facility, there have been no further explanations regarding what may have prompted the death — much less an official investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which was created as a part of Homeland Security in 2003 to consolidate immigration enforcement.
Medina’s tragic death marks the latest in the mounting number of immigrant deaths in the custody of CCA, the largest corporation in the business of for-profit detention.
From October 2003 through Feb. 7, 2009, 18 people died in immigration detention custody in facilities operated by CCA alone, according to information from The New York Times.
Yet ICE has failed repeatedly to hold CCA accountable. Instead, the federal agency continues to reward CCA with additional contracts, most recently for operation of the North Georgia Detention Center in Hall County.
The CCA’s track record should come as no surprise to those who read the report issued in April by Georgia Detention Watch, a coalition of several organizations and individuals advocating an end to unjust and inhumane immigration detention and local enforcement practices.
The report was based on interviews with 16 detainees during a humanitarian visitation coordinated by Georgia Detention Watch in December 2008. The report uses ICE’s own Performance Based National Detention Standards to evaluate conditions at Stewart.
Even compared to ICE’s own nonbinding standards, conditions at the CCA-operated facility can best be described as grossly inadequate.
Members of Georgia Detention Watch and partner organizations have requested on several occasions to meet with ICE to discuss the findings of the report, but have gotten no response.
Georgia Detention Watch is not alone in demanding answers and accountability for immigrant deaths in U.S. detention.
The United Nations Expert on Extrajudicial Killings, Philip Alston, who toured the United States on a fact-finding mission in June 2008 on a mandate to investigate killings in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, recently released a report demanding greater transparency and swift and public investigations for deaths in immigration detention.
Today marks three months since the death of Medina. ICE has yet to provide any answers regarding why this man died in detention.
Neither have Georgia Detention Watch members been provided with an opportunity to meet with ICE representatives to discuss the mounting concerns regarding the treatment of immigrants at the CCA-run Stewart.
With the prospect for yet another CCA-run immigrant detention facility in Hall County, these concerns become especially urgent.
If ICE’s oversight of the CCA operation of Stewart is any guide, we can expect yet another facility funded by taxpayers held to no standards at all.
I will join others in front of the ICE office in downtown Atlanta today to honor the memory of Medina and other immigrants who have died in CCA custody.
Georgia Detention Watch members will wear black T-shirts reading: “Why Did Roberto Martinez Medina Die in Detention?” Our message is clear: The era for impunity is over. ICE must hold CCA to account.
ASGI12.06.2009
Rafforzato il diritto dello straniero al rilascio di un permesso di soggiorno per motivi umanitari su segnalazione della Commissione territoriale per la protezione internazionale.
La Corte di Cassazione, a Sezioni Unite Civili, ha , per la prima volta affermato la giurisdizione del giudice ordinario su un provvedimento del Questore di diniego di rilascio del permesso di soggiorno per motivi umanitari, richiesto ai sensi dell'art. 5, sesto comma del d.lgs n. 286 del 1998. La Corte, per affermare questo nuovo orientamento, ha valorizzato il mutato quadro normativo del regime giuridico del permesso per ragioni umanitarie, emergente dall'inserimento dell'art. 1 quater (ex art. 32 L. n. 189 del 2002) del d.l. n. 416 del 1989, convertito nella l. n. 39 del 1990, ai sensi del quale le Commissioni territoriali competenti a decidere delle domande di asilo devono, nei casi in cui non accolgano la domanda di protezione umanitaria, trasmettere gli atti al Questore per l'eventuale rilascio del permesso di soggiorno, quando ricorrano gravi motivi di carattere umanitario. Questa rilevante innovazione, entrata in vigore il 20 aprile 2005 e puntualmente confermata nella successiva normazione di derivazione comunitaria sulla protezione internazionale (art. 32 del d.lgs n. 25 del 2008 non derogato dal d.lgs n. 159 del 2008), ha radicalmente modificato, secondo l'interpretazione delle S.U., il rapporto tra attribuzioni della Commissione territoriale e poteri del Questore in quanto le Commissioni sono dotate di tutte le competenze valutative, di natura esclusivamente tecnica e non politico discrezionale in ordine alla pluralità di misure di protezione umanitaria previste dall'ordinamento (status di rifugiato, protezione sussidiaria e misure residuali e temporanee desumibili dall'art. 5, sesto comma del d.lgs n. 286 del 1998) mentre al Questore residua il compito di dare attuazione a tali deliberazioni senza alcun margine di autonoma valutazione sulla condizione "umanitaria" dello straniero.
Corte di Cassazione, Sezioni Unite civili, sentenza del 21 aprile 2009, n. 11535
ASGIConsiglio di Stato, Sezione Sesta, ordinanza del 5 giugno 2009, n. 3765
Il Consiglio di Stato ha respinto il ricorso della Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri e del Ministero dell'Interno contro il provvedimento con cui nel mese di gennaio il TAR del Lazio ha accolto la domanda di sospensiva del Decreto Flussi per l'anno 2008.
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Consiglio di Stato -Decisione 3765/2009 (19.16 KB)
Consiglio di Stato, Sezione Sesta, ordinanza del 5 giugno 2009, n. 3765
allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Switzerland - Nigeria Tops Illegal Migration List
Dele Ogbodo
11 June 2009
Abuja — The Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Mr. Andreas Baum, Tuesday in Abuja, disclosed that his country witnessed rising number of illegal immigrants from West African countries with Nigerian nationals accounting for the highest number in the last one year.
He said the number tripled when compared to 2007 statistics of migration to Switzerland. Migration Advisor at the Switzerland Embassy, Miss Patricia Dvoracek, who represented the Ambassador made this disclosure at the opening of the 2-day workshop on "National Migration Policy for Regional Project: Migration in West Africa and Central Africa: National Profiles for Strategic Policy Development".
The Ambassador pointed out that the global financial crisis was one of the major causes of illegal migrantion to Europe in search of new job opportunities.
Baum explained that "These facts put our Federal Office for Migration, supervised by the Ministry of Police and Justice, under public and political pressures. Quick and effective answers are required. One of the solutions which the Swiss government is promoting is by supporting the programme "Migration in West and Central Africa: National Profiles for Strategic Policy Development through the International Organization for Migration (IOM)".
He said Swiss Foreign Minister, Mrs. Michelline Calm-Rey, tabled the issue before Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, during her recent visit to Nigeria two months ago.
In a key note address, the Minister of Special Duties, Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure, who spoke through his Permanent Secretary, Edith Gonda, said the workshop which was aimed at the presentation of migration, data-based profile for Nigeria would equip policy makers with the necessary tools to face the challenges of mixed migration flow was not only timely, but a right step towards mainstreaming migration issues in development programme of Nigeria.
He said the Federal Government's commitment to proffer solutions to the challenges posed by regular and irregular migration issues in Nigeria made it to grant additional responsibility granted to the National Commission for Refugees as a focal agency for the management of migration underscores its front burner in the present administration policy trust.
He said government is committed to effective management of migration issues by steaming the tide of irregular migration by discouraging migrants from using illegal routes that often lead to their untimely deaths. He said if migration is effectively managed will reduce the issue of brain drain and ensure the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals as well as the 7-point Agenda
Greece to toughen policy on migrants
2009-06-11 19:07:02 -
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece will toughen its policies on illegal immigration to combat a surge in trafficking from Turkey, the country's interior minister said Thursday.
Traffickers will face tougher penalties, and more detention centers will be created allowing authorities to detain illegal immigrants for up to 12 months, up from the current official limit of three months, Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said.
Pavlopoulos said a sharp increase in illegal immigration had been worsened because Turkey, with which Greece shares a border, was not adequately enforcing an agreement to take back migrants facing deportation from Greece.
In 2008, Greek authorities arrested more than 146,000 illegal immigrants, a 30 percent increase from the previous year and a 54 percent jump from 2006, according to figures from the Interior Ministry.
The measures announced Thursday follow the surge in support for a rightist party in European Parliament elections last Sunday, as well a violence protest on May 22 by Muslim immigrants in central Athens, protesting the alleged defacement of a Quran by a Greek policeman.
Earlier this week, police clashed with rival groups of demonstrators near the center of the capital, when local residents tried to block mostly Asian immigrants from entering a public playground.
El Gobierno abre la puerta a la regularización del inmigrante que perdió un brazo
El ministro de Tranbajo espera que recaiga "todo el peso de le ley" sobre el empresario que abandonó a Franns Rilles
AGENCIAS - Alicante - 11/06/2009
La secretaria de Estado de Inmigración y Emigración, Consuelo Rumí, ha asegurado que el Gobierno está dispuesto a estudiar la posibilidad de regularizar al inmigrante que perdió el brazo izquierdo en una máquina de amasar en una panificadora de Gandía y que fue abandonado por su jefe a 50 metros de llegar al hospital. Rumí ha señalado que el caso puede encajar en los supuestos de regularización por razones humanitarias.
Rumí hizo estas declaraciones en Alicante, donde inauguró una jornada técnica sobre la futura ley de Extranjería, al ser preguntada por la posibilidad de regularizar la situación del herido. La secretaria de Estado destacó que "la ley contempla actualmente situaciones donde se puede estudiar la posibilidad de la documentación en función de razones humanitarias".
Atendiendo a ese supuesto, "si se solicita" la regularización, "se va a estudiar", puesto que "es evidente que es uno de los casos que pueden" acogerse en él. "Esto llevará sus trámites por parte de la Subdelegación del Gobierno correspondiente", añadió.
Según Comisiones Obreras, otra de las condiciones que reúne Rilles es carecer de antecedentes penales en España y en su país de origen, así como poder demostrar la existencia de relaciones laborales "cuya duración no sea inferior a un año". El sindicato estudiará además la posibilidad de solicitar una pensión de invalidez si se reconoce la relación laboral entre el empleado, que estaba contratatado en situación irregular, y la panficadora.
Asimismo, la secretaria de Estado ha afirmado que su departamento ha requerido al Observatorio del Racismo y la Xenofobia un análisis del caso para estudiar qué medidas se pueden adoptar si se constatan los hechos. Rumí calificó de "repugnante" la conducta del empresario y manifestó que si los hechos se constatan, "puesto que está abierta una investigación, se tomarán todas las medidas que ya hoy tenemos en nuestro alcance en el ámbito legal". No obstante, añadió que prefiere "esperar a tener todos los resultados de esa investigación", para adoptar una decisión.
En este sentido, el ministro de Trabajo e Inmigración, Celestino Corbacho, ha asegurado que "debe recaer todo el peso de la ley" sobre el empresario que, presuntamente, no asistió al inmigrante boliviano. Corbacho, durante una rueda de prensa en Valladolid, ha comentado que en época de crisis muchas personas "aceptan cualquier puesto de trabajo y alguien puede tener poco escrúpulo para obtener un beneficio económico" sin respetar derechos de los trabajadores. Por ello, añadió se ha incrementado en lo que va de año un 30% la labor de la Inspección de Trabajo contra "la economía irregular". "Quienes contratan tienen que saber que la Inspección será contundente", ha advertido.
Corbacho ha reiterado que espera que "recaiga todo el peso de la ley" sobre un empresario que "no le prestó la atención necesaria" al trabajador herido, al que supuestamente abandonó en las cercanías de un centro sanitario antes de arrojar el brazo amputado a un contenedor.
Investigación de la Guardia Civil
En este sentido, la Fiscalía de Siniestralidad Laboral de Valencia ha pedido informes a la Guardia Civil y a la Inspección de Trabajo para investigar lo ocurrido. Según fuentes próximas a la investigación, el fiscal de Siniestralidad de Valencia, Jaime Gil, ha requerido al fiscal de Gandía que oficie a la Guardia Civil y a la Inspección informes "en la mayor brevedad posible", para determinar en qué delitos pudieron incurrir los jefes de este joven, de 33 años.
Con los informes, la Fiscalía decidirá qué actuaciones adoptará para esclarecer este asunto y determinar las posibles responsabilidades, indicaron las mismas fuentes, que aseguraron que por este caso se ha interesado también el fiscal de Sala de Siniestralidad, que ha pedido un seguimento puntual por parte del ministerio público.
La Guardia Civil ya detuvo la semana pasada a los dos jefes del joven, hermanos propietarios del horno, por un delito contra los derechos de los trabajadores, ya que, supuestamente, tenían empleados a su cargo a personas sin ningún tipo de contrato. Respecto a la denuncia del joven de que uno de los jefes lo abandonó, la Guardia Civil está investigando los hechos por si adopta cualquier otra medida. Por el momento, ha clausurado el establecimiento.
El brazo, en la basura
El joven, de origen boliviano, que se encuentra "bien" e ingresado en el Hospital Virgen del Consuelo de Valencia, llevaba trabajando en esa empresa de Gandia algo más de un año y medio, sin contrato de trabajo, al igual que el resto de los compañeros, según denunció su hermana, Silvia.
En el momento del accidente se encontraba amasando 40 kilogramos de harina y, cuando se le cayó un plástico, se le quedó enganchado el brazo izquierdo en la máquina. Según su hermana, "perdió el brazo, pero la máquina podía haberlo tragado si no la hubiera apagado".
Tras el incidente, el jefe del joven lo subió a su vehículo y dijo que iba a llevarlo al hospital San Francisco de Borja de Gandia, aunque unos 50 metros antes de llegar lo obligó a bajar y lo abandonó en plena calle, "mientras perdía mucha sangre". La hermana afirma que el empresario se comportó de esta manera porque "no tenía permisos ni licencias" y, además, "tenía a sus trabajadores sin contrato, sin papeles".
Un viandante ayudó al joven a llegar al servicio de Urgencias del hospital de Gandia, donde los médicos se pusieron en contacto con el cirujano Pedro Cavadas y su equipo para ver si le podían reimplantarle el brazo. Por este motivo, los facultativos trasladaron al joven hasta el Hospital Virgen del Consuelo de Valencia, donde el doctor Cavadas no pudo hacer nada por reimplantarse el brazo, puesto que éste "se encontraba en muy mal estado, ya que los empresarios, tras lo ocurrido, lo tiraron a un contenedor", denunció Silvia, quien también recordó que "limpiaron todo para no dejar restos de nada".
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