For this, an army of 300 agents was mobilized, from 9 police forces, inspection services and even the City Council’s social action service. The only thing missing was the participation of ACIDI, with a view to promoting adequate intercultural dialogue in the midst of the “European Year for Intercultural Dialogue”…

There were 310 foreign citizens identified in a discriminatory attitude, the closure of 4 establishments, the seizure of two tons of fish and the inspection of several hostels and pensions.

We consider that the operation has taken on completely disproportionate proportions, it does not solve the social problems in the area at all, it represents a bad beginning of an alleged “rehabilitation” process – rehabilitation is not carried out with “drag-like” actions – it creates an atmosphere of intimidation over immigrants, in full process of regularization in Portugal, and feeds xenophobia.

At a time when the government is facing a serious crisis of popularity, this type of action comes in very handy: it diverts attention from the social and economic problems facing the country, and from the policies followed, and makes immigrants easy targets for retrograde and xenophobic populism. . Solidarity Imigrantes does not accept trying to make scapegoats of immigrants for the political and social crisis facing Portugal.

Any policy, program or action that effectively aims to transform Lisbon into a cosmopolitan city must count on the participation of all, including immigrants, men and women who, with their experience, culture, work and knowledge, contribute to the richness of diversity. what you want for Lisbon.

We inform you that Immigrant Solidarity will join all the discontents that have been expressed throughout the country and will actively participate in the demonstrations of April 25th and May 1st.

The post Immigrants Are Not Scapagots first appeared on Immigrant Solidarity.

At least thirty-six people drowned, including women and children. A few months earlier, the death of a Senegalese citizen, thrown into the sea by the Spanish civil guard, was reported.

In the context of the meeting of the International Committee of the 3rd World Social Forum on Migration ( www.fsmm2008.org ), the signatory organizations express their deepest indignation at this type of intervention by the authorities, regardless of the country. It is not acceptable that, in the name of fighting illegal immigration, governments are allowed everything. The attempt to enter European territory does not justify putting a person’s life at risk.

European governments, including Spain, have established cooperation agreements with Morocco in terms of migration policy and must demand that those responsible for this African government ensure that the rights of migrants are respected, whose only “crime” is to seek a more dignified life than the one that was promised in its home country by the global economic system.

Therefore, we demand that the Spanish and Moroccan governments carry out an exhaustive investigation into the aforementioned facts, that responsibilities be clarified, and that the necessary measures be taken to ensure that this type of situation does not happen again.

The governments of the countries of the European Union, incoherent with the democratic values ​​that they supposedly defend, sub-contracted the control of borders with countries where the human rights are not respected. European governments are thus increasingly distancing themselves from the values ​​that govern their Constitutions, for example, by basing their migration policies on measures that will lead to an extension of the detention time of migrants in an irregular situation to 18 months, if the European Directive Return is approved.

Meanwhile, the root causes of migration remain the same without the European Union taking responsibility, while policies continue to be carried out that destroy the economic structures of the countries of origin and force their populations to emigrate in search of a more dignified life.

SIGNATORY ORGANIZATIONS: AFESIP; National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC); Andalucia Acoge; Asociación de Chilenos en España (ACHES); Asociación Rumiñahui; Association Internationale Scalabriniénne au Service des Migrants (AISSMI); Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucía (APDHA); Attack; Rivas City Council; Center d’Etudes Pour l’Action Sociale (CEPAS), Democratic Republic of Congo; Círculo de Tunecinos de Marsella and Carta Mundial de los Migrantes; Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado (CEAR); Conadee; FEDELATINE; CEAR Foundation; State Federation of Refugees and Immigrants in Spain (FERINE); Federation of Progressive Women; Fortress Europe; Southern Foundation; Cry of the Excluded (from Latin America and the Caribbean); Groupe Antiracist d’accompagnement et de Défense des Étrangers et Migrants (GADEM), from Morocco; IEPALA; Liberación-Amauta (Acción en Red); Migration, Refuge and Displacement (MIREDES); Migrant Forum in Asia; MIGREUROP; Catholic Work for Migration (Portugal); Palestinian National Council; Pateras de la vida – Maroc; Plan Migration, communication and development. ALER-Red Con Voice; State Platform of Organizaciones de Mujeres Para la Abolición de la Prostitución; Inter-American Platform for Human Rights, Democracy and Development; European Network Against Racism-Spain (ENAR); International Migration and Development Network; Reseau Africain Sur L’Etude des Migrations (SAR), Senegal; south direction; Pastoral Service for Migrants of Brazil; Immigrant Solidarity – Portugal; USE. Catholic Work for Migration (Portugal); Palestinian National Council; Pateras de la vida – Maroc; Plan Migration, communication and development. ALER-Red Con Voice; State Platform of Organizaciones de Mujeres Para la Abolición de la Prostitución; Inter-American Platform for Human Rights, Democracy and Development; European Network Against Racism-Spain (ENAR); International Migration and Development Network; Reseau Africain Sur L’Etude des Migrations (SAR), Senegal; south direction; Pastoral Service for Migrants of Brazil; Immigrant Solidarity – Portugal; USE. Catholic Work for Migration (Portugal); Palestinian National Council; Pateras de la vida – Maroc; Plan Migration, communication and development. ALER-Red Con Voice; State Platform of Organizaciones de Mujeres Para la Abolición de la Prostitución; Inter-American Platform for Human Rights, Democracy and Development; European Network Against Racism-Spain (ENAR); International Migration and Development Network; Reseau Africain Sur L’Etude des Migrations (SAR), Senegal; south direction; Pastoral Service for Migrants of Brazil; Immigrant Solidarity – Portugal; USE. democracy and development; European Network Against Racism-Spain (ENAR); International Migration and Development Network; Reseau Africain Sur L’Etude des Migrations (SAR), Senegal; south direction; Pastoral Service for Migrants of Brazil; Immigrant Solidarity – Portugal; USE. democracy and development; European Network Against Racism-Spain (ENAR); International Migration and Development Network; Reseau Africain Sur L’Etude des Migrations (SAR), Senegal; south direction; Pastoral Service for Migrants of Brazil; Immigrant Solidarity – Portugal; USE.

The post We Demand the Investigation of the Death of Migrants at the Southern Border of Europe first appeared on Immigrant Solidarity.

THEMES

• Return Directive;

• European Pact on Immigration proposed by the French Presidency of the EU

• The situation of sub-Saharan immigrants on the Morocco-Algeria border.

Immigrant Solidarity , together with Obra Pastoral para as Migrações , at the association’s headquarters, a press conference in order to expose our concerns regarding various proposals on migration that are under discussion at a European level: the Return Directive and the European Pact on Immigration proposed by the French Presidency of the EU.

The policy that has been implemented by the European Union in relation to immigration has fueled illegal immigration and, in particular, the strong investment in border control and repression, has contributed to the disrespect of human rights in the countries that border with the Schengen Area, namely Morocco and Algeria.

With a view to raising the awareness of the Portuguese authorities and public opinion about this situation, we invited Hicham Baraka, President of Ass. Beni Znassen for culture, development and solidarity, based in Oujda, Morocco, on the border with Algeria, to share with us her experience on the ground.

This association has denounced the situation of disrespect for the human rights of immigrants, especially sub-Saharan ones, experienced in Morocco. Hicham Baraka has been on the ground collecting information about the death of more than 28 immigrants on the coast of El Hoceima, due to the fact that the pneumatic boat where they were following was punctured by the Moroccan navy, and whose survivors were later abandoned on the Moroccan border with Algeria. .
At the press conference will be:

a short film about the situation of immigrants in Morocco was shown;

information collected by ABCDS on the situation of immigrants in Morocco was presented;

position on the Return Directive and the Sarkozy Pact and their effects on the degradation of migrants’ rights.

With the presence of:

– Dª Eugénia Costa Quaresma (Catholic Work for Migration)

– Hicham Baraka (ABCDS)

– Timóteo Macedo (Immigrant Solidarity)

Location: Rua da Madalena, 8 – 2º (near Terreiro do Paço)

The post Conf. Press: Sarkozy Pact and Human Ping-Pong on the Morocco-Algeria Border first appeared on Immigrant Solidarity.

In solidarity with the struggle that is taking place in Europe and in the world against racist and xenophobic policies, here we are also going to fight for the regularization of all immigrants, without exception, every man/woman – a document. Immigrant, human rights, anti-racist, cultural, religious and trade union organizations have decided to schedule for the next 12 October , Sunday at 3 pm, at Martim Moniz, a day of action for the regularization of the undocumented, against wave of xenophobia and against the Sarkozy Pact On the 15th and 16th of October, the European Council will gather the heads of state and government of the 27 to ratify the “ EUROPEAN PACT on IMMIGRATION and ASYLUM

“, approved by the Council of Ministers held on 25 September. The Pact proposed by Nicolas Sarkozy, in the context of the French presidency of the European Union, aims to define the general lines of the EU in this matter and is based on five fundamental points : organizing legal immigration, prioritizing the adoption of the “blue card”, for recruitment of -qualified labor; facilitating expulsion mechanisms and procedures and establishing partnerships with third and transit countries to that end; implement a European asylum policy; strengthen border control; prohibit collective regularization processes .

After the approval of the Return Directive, with the favorable vote of the Portuguese Government, these measures represent yet another shame for Europe. The security treatment of migration, the definition of discriminatory criteria for access to work, the deepening of the criminalization of migration, the militarization and externalization of borders through FRONTEX and the persecution of the approximately 8 million undocumented and work in Europe – to whom expulsion is the only way out – are measures that aim to consolidate a Fortress Europe, of which we cannot but be ashamed.

In Portugal, the recent wave of media coverage of crime and recent statements by government officials who treated immigrants as scapegoats for the increase in crime, make room for xenophobic and racist pressures, and create an environment conducive to disaccountability. from the government. At stake is the need to regularize tens of thousands of immigrants who face serious difficulties in regularizing their situation.

These are men and women who sought to escape misery, hunger, insecurity, forced to leave their countries as a result of global warming and other climate changes, or who simply tried to change their lives, but who were not recognized as having the right to seek better life conditions. These are people who have found no option but to go underground, often victims of unscrupulous networks, and who are confronted with a law that cynically says that “every case is a case”, making the rule the exception and refusing to to the generality of immigrants the recognition of their human dignity. Of particular note is the situation of immigrants without entry visas, to whom the law refuses any opportunity for legalization.

SIGNATORY ORGANIZATIONS: Humanist Action Coop. and Des.; ACRP; ADECKO; AIPA – Signed immigrant in the Azores; APODEC; Signed Capeverdeanade Lisbon; Signed Cuban PR; Signed African Student Support; Signed Lusophonia, Cult. and Citizenship; Signed Mozambique Always; Signed of the Naturals of Pelundo; Signed of the Nepalese; Signed Togolese origins; Signed R. from Guinea-Conakry; Signed Living Eye; Signed Rec. Slope Improvements; Pungu Andongo Ballet; Lisbon House of Brazil; Big House of Brazil; Center P. Arab-Puular and Islamic Culture; tax Mumia Abu-Jamal; With. address Bº End of the World; GAIA; Khapaz – Ass. of Afro-descendent Youth; PT-Lisbon nucleus; Portuguese Catholic Work on Migration; Immigrant Solidarity; SOS Racism.

The post Oct 12: Day of Action first appeared on Immigrant Solidarity.

In the context of the campaign launched by the Migreurop network for the Right to observe the places of detention of foreigners, parliamentarians, nationals and Europeans, and association activists will carry out visits to centers located in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and France, between 30 January and 7 February 2009. In Mauritania, where an EU-funded detention center operates, an awareness-raising day will be organised. In Portugal, a visit will be promoted to the Temporary Installation Center at Lisbon Airport, which will be attended by Members of the Assembly of the Republic and the European Parliament and will take place tomorrow, between 14:00 and 16:00.

Under the umbrella of the directive adopted by the European Union, the return directive – which makes the generalization of the detention of foreigners official – the Italian authorities decided to extend the maximum period of detention of foreigners awaiting expulsion to 18 months. In mid-January, the Italian minister of the interior announced that he would transform the island of Lampedusa into a huge detention center where migrants who arrived on the coasts of southern Italy will be held, before being massively expelled through expedited procedures (may access the positions taken by civil society groups here ). On France, where there is a strong threat of restricting the conditions of access of associations to detention centres, there is a de facto reduction in the rights of migrants and tensions, fires, suicide attempts are multiplying (more information can be found be consulted here ).

In the name of the fight against irregular immigration, and with the false pretext of responding to the demands of public opinion, the detention of migrants in Europe is being systematized , within the framework of an extraordinary advance in European harmonization in the field of detention of migrants. In this context, a report by the European Parliament indicates concern about the multiplication of detention centers for foreigners in the Member States and on their borders and the frequent violations of human rights in these places, which have been increasingly denounced in recent years. This EP Report also advocates guaranteeing access to NGOs specialized in protecting the fundamental rights of migrants and asylum seekers and creating mechanisms for the supervision and inspection of these centres.

The centers for foreigners are the epicenter of multiple attacks on fundamental rights. Let us not let a mantle of silence fall over them. Associations, civil society and representatives of sovereign bodies have the right to know what is happening in them, thus contributing to the promotion of observance of Human Rights.

The post No to the Blanket of Silence Over Detention Spaces for Foreigners first appeared on Immigrant Solidarity.

Solidarity Immigrant, as a member of the MIGREUROP Network, questions the Portuguese Government about its position regarding these expulsions and about what procedures it is taking, together with the other European governments and the European Commission, in order to guarantee a firm condemnation of these the expulsions carried out by the Italian authorities, and it does not fail to register its concern regarding the increase in the number of detentions of undocumented immigrants, which has also been registered in Portugal.

The Italian minister of internal administration, Roberto Maroni, when considering the expulsion to Libya of 277 immigrants, intercepted on 6 May, and 240, on 10 May, to Libya, was not mistaken. However, far from representing an advance in the fight against illegal immigration, as the Italian minister claims, this repatriation means that Italy has chosen to turn its back on democratic principles and its commitments in the field of fundamental rights.

In 2004 and 2005, Italy had already carried out massive expulsions to Libya of several hundred who had landed on the island of Lampedusa, which was condemned by the European Parliament, which expressed itself “deeply concerned about the fate of hundreds of requesters of asylum [returned to a country] that is not a signatory to the Geneva Convention on the Status of Refugees, does not have an asylum regime, does not offer any effective guarantee in terms of refugee rights and practices arbitrary detention and expulsion”. Four years later, the situation of refugees and migrants in Libya has not changed. Violence, ill-treatment, arrests, rapes, torture and deportations are constantly taking place in this country which has not signed the Geneva Convention on Refugees. At the beginning of May, a video presented by the Italian press showed the Libyan military, under threat of weapons, preventing migrants from launching themselves into the sea towards the island of Lampedusa. This is a sinister illustration of the “friendship treaty” concluded between Italy and Libya in the autumn of 2008.

What has changed is the role now entrusted to Libya by the European Union in the fight against illegal immigration. Reintegrated into the international community after years of exclusion due to acts of terrorism, “Libya has the potential to become a key EU partner in the Mediterranean and Africa”. These were the words of the European Commissioner responsible for internal affairs, who in February offered this country 20 million euros to help better control its borders, as part of the process of externalizing the European migration policy. In fact, in addition to the resources offered by its subsoils – gas and oil – Libya occupies a decisive place on the map of migratory routes towards Europe, and knows how to make it profitable. 20 million to allow sending thousands of women, men and children to Libyan detention camps,

The European Union has the means to avoid being an accomplice in this new phase of the war against migrants: the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network and Migreurop expect a firm condemnation of these expulsions by the European Commission, contrary to European and international law, and that legal proceedings are initiated against the Italian authorities. Europe, which has signed the Charter of Fundamental Rights, must also renounce any migration agreement with countries that clearly violate human rights.

The post Illegal Expulsion of 500 Migrants to Libya: The EU Must Condemn the Italian Authorities first appeared on Immigrant Solidarity.

The post Assoc. Of Immigrants Against the New Immigration Law! first appeared on Immigrant Solidarity.