#migrant crossings

[lucydacusgirl]

Why is everybody crazy and evil now like normal ass people will just be crazy and evil.

[isawthismeme]

Why do Repugnicans have such short memories? They still don’t see their own party voting against fixing the border crisis to win petty political battles.

[feckcops]

The migrant shipwreck near Greece is a horrible tragedy – but it wasn’t an accident

“The Greek coast guard’s conflicting account states that the vessel was first spotted by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, at midday on Tuesday, June 13. It claims that once it achieved contact, those on board repeatedly stated that ‘the boat was not in danger, they wanted no help other than food and water, and that they wished to continue on to Italy.’ The coast guard states that at 1:40 a.m., the boat ceased moving, and at 2:04 a.m., a coast guard floating vessel reported that the trawler had capsized.

“International legal experts have noted that even if those on board the trawler said they did not want to be rescued, the coast guard had the obligation to independently evaluate if it was seaworthy and intervene if it was not. Photos of the trawler show that it was clearly overpacked, those on board did not appear to be wearing life vests, and the vessel was not flying any flag …

“These tragedies are no accident, but a product of political choices. Over the past decade, the EU has reduced access to asylum and made arriving on the continent ever more difficult — increasing policing and surveillance along its borders, erecting and expanding walls, and illegally pushing back thousands of people …

“There are years of evidence that Greece and Frontex regularly engage in and cooperate on illegal pushbacks — pushing migrants back over the border despite their right to seek asylum. In recent years, these pushbacks have been stepped up, both on the country’s northern land border and at sea. Those caught on the northern border are usually beaten, robbed of their phones and all their valuables, often stripped naked, and put in boats on the river Évros. People who arrive on Greek islands are usually gathered up, put on rubber boats, and abandoned at sea. Boats intercepted in the Aegean Sea are often damaged or have their engines removed, or else the Hellenic Coast Guard will simply tow them back to Turkish waters.”

[abirdie]

Gael García Bernal in Desierto (2015, dir. Jonás Cuarón)

(these gifs also feature Alondra Hidalgo)

Gifs are all 540px wide so you can click to see larger.

[other gael filmography gifsets]

[ukdailymail]

French police ram speedboat into overcrowded migrant vessel

[ometochtli2rabbit]

[rightscoop]

More than 100 migrants rescued trying to cross the English Channel on Christmas, authorities say

French authorities said they rescued 107 migrants trying to cross the English Channel from France to England on Wednesday. During Christmas Day, 12 rescue operations were carried out along the coast of northern France, including that of a ship that suffered engine problems, the French maritime prefecture of the Channel and Sea of ​​the Sea said in a statement. North. In the morning, 30 passengers…

[head-post]

Dutch minister Faber announces border controls

The Netherlands will become the last Schengen member state to introduce internal controls at land borders with neighbouring countries, SchengenNews reports.

As announced by Dutch Minister of Migration Marjolein Faber, the country will officially introduce controls at land borders from December 9, 2024.

Minister Faber made this announcement in a press release after cabinet approval. In addition to the statement, the minister also explained that the measure is being introduced in an attempt to tackle illegal migration into the country and to combat human trafficking.

According to Minister Faber, the time has come to concretely address these two issues and he emphasised that border controls are a measure that must be put in place. He said:

“It is time to tackle irregular migration and migrant smuggling in a concrete way. That is why we will start reintroducing border controls in the Netherlands from the beginning of December.”

The Dutch authorities explained that the border controls will be in place for six months. This means that the measure, which will be introduced on the second Monday in December, will initially be in place until June 9, 2025. However, if the situation does not improve, the Netherlands may decide to extend the border controls for a further period.

Currently, the Marechaussee, the Dutch national gendarmerie, conducts random checks at the country’s borders. However, once the measure comes into effect, the checks will become more stringent. Minister Faber said that they will work to minimise the impact of the checks on commuter and economic traffic.

The Dutch decision was influenced by Germany

The Dutch decision to introduce border controls on its land border was influenced by Germany.

Germany decided to introduce checks at all its land borders on September 16 for a period of six months. Since then, anyone entering Germany from any neighbouring country is required to undergo checks.

As explained by German authorities, the main purpose of the increased checks is to put an end to illegal migration.

German authorities said that so far the controls have had a positive effect. It is not yet clear whether the Netherlands will also see a decrease in illegal migration and human trafficking after the introduction of border controls.

In addition to Germany, France has also reintroduced border controls with neighbouring countries, citing illegal migration and terrorist threats.

Read more HERE

[paradiseisinthemind]

Brinco

2005, Judi Werthein

Argentinian artist Werthein set up a trainer brand, Brinco (‘jump’ in Spanish) in 2005. She distributed the trainers free of charge to people attempting to cross the border illegally in Tijuana, Mexico. At the same time, just over the border in the US city of San Diego, she sold the shoes as ‘limited edition’ art objects for over $200 a pair. Werthein donated part of the money she raised to a Tijuana shelter helping migrants in need.

The trainer’s design includes eagle motifs inspired by American and Mexican national symbols, and an image of Saint Toribio Romo, the patron saint of Mexican migrants. The shoes also feature a torch, a compass and pockets to hide money and medicine. Printed on a removable insole is a map of the border area around Tijuana.

Werthein had the Brinco trainers produced cheaply in China. Many global companies manufacture products in countries where labour is cheap and often poorly regulated. The artist hopes to draw attention to how easily goods move between countries, compared with the strict regulations around the movement of people. The same governments that allow the import of cheap goods from overseas often strictly control, and actively discourage, migrants from entering the country in search of better living conditions.

"Goods can cross any border that people cannot"

[isawthismeme]

[onbreakreadlastpost]

One man dies in Channel crossing attempt

Baby dead and dozens rescued in Channel sinking

Not nearly enough is being done to support migrants. Instead, they are being demonised. Migrant rights are human rights. We need safe routes for migrants

[dailyworldecho]

[e-the-village-cryptid]

A brief bullet-point list of the executive orders Trump signed yesterday. The tiktok thing is a distraction. If you are in the US, please read this. It will take less than 5 minutes. Gift article so no paywall

Some of the items on that list:

Freeze federal hiring except for military and immigration enforcement.

Bar asylum for people newly arriving at the southern border; declare migrant crossings at the southern border to be a national emergency; suspend the entire Refugee Admissions Program.

Terminate DEI initiatives across the federal government.

Recognize only two sexes; remove protections for transgender people in federal prisons.

Withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, the pact among almost all nations to fight climate change.

Declare a national energy emergency, a first in U.S. history, which could unlock new powers to suspend certain environmental rules or expedite permitting of certain mining projects.

Try to undo Biden’s ban on offshore drilling for 625 million acres of federal waters; undo Biden-era tailpipe pollution regulations and other energy-efficiency, fossil fuel, and pollution regulations.

Open the Alaska wilderness to more oil and gas drilling.

Eliminate environmental justice programs across the government, which are aimed at protecting poor communities from excess pollution.

Withdraw from the World Health Organization.

Ensure that states carrying out the death penalty have a “sufficient supply” of lethal injection drugs.

Create the Department of Government Efficiency with Elon Musk in charge.

[head-post]

Netherlands to introduce border controls as part of anti-migration drive

The Netherlands will become the latest EU country to step up strict border controls to reduce the number of immigrants, after France and Germany announced similar measures.

The border controls could come into effect at the end of next month, Dutch broadcaster RTL reported on Wednesday, citing government sources.

The border controls are part of broader anti-migration measures proposed by a Dutch coalition led by Geert Wilders’ PVV party. The measures also include limiting asylum permits to a maximum of three years and restricting the ability of asylum seekers who are allowed to stay to reunite with family members, RTL reported.

This comes after France announced last week that it would step up border checks from November, following a similar move by neighbouring Germany, which suspended the freedom of the passport-free Schengen Zone in September to crack down on illegal immigration.

The tough new border controls to be introduced in the Netherlands were already part of a coalition agreement reached by the parties in July, following Wilders’ stunning election victory almost a year ago. But it took months for the parties to reach a compromise on the way forward, as Wilders insisted on declaring a national asylum crisis, which would allow the government to bypass parliament.

However, such a move was opposed not only by the opposition parties but also by one of the PVV’s coalition partners, who questioned its necessity and even legality.

As a compromise, the new package will be voted on both in the Lower House, where the government has a majority, and in the Senate, where it is likely to receive enough support outside the coalition to pass.

Border controls introduced because of “serious threats to public policy”

Meanwhile, French authorities notified the European Commission last week that the country’s borders with six neighbouring Schengen members – Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland – will be reinforced from November 1 for at least six months.

The controls will apply to travellers entering France by land, sea and air from all six countries and will expire on April 1, 2025, but authorities said they could be extended.

A French government statement said the checks were introduced because of “serious threats to public policy, public order and internal security caused by high-level terrorist activities … criminal networks facilitating irregular migration and smuggling, as well as migratory flows into which radicalised individuals can infiltrate.”

This is the first time France has introduced such controls since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is possible that migrants and unauthorised travellers will be turned back at the border and suspected criminals will be detained.

Under the Schengen Agreement, 29 European countries have agreed to abolish internal border controls in order to achieve freedom of movement across the continent.

Twenty-five of the 27 EU member states are party to the agreement, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

However, the Schengen Borders Code allows member states to introduce temporary border checks “as a last resort” if the authorities believe there is a serious threat to public order or internal security.

Such temporary restrictions can last up to six months, which is why French authorities have given an end date of April 1, 2025 for the upcoming measures. However, such checks could be extended if threats are deemed to persist.

Read more HERE