By late December of 2015, more than 1 million migrants and refugees had entered Europe.
This wave of people, predominantly from the Middle East and North Africa has elicited
a strong reaction from many Europeans.
Nationalist and right wing groups have been gaining popularity, and reports of mass sexual
assault and violence by foreign nationals has Europe’s leaders scrambling.
In recent months, countries known for liberal values have taken drastic steps to curb the
influx of new migrants.
So, what Extreme Measures are EU Countries Taking To Keep Migrants Out?
Well, for decades, the EU has notably allowed free travel between a majority of its member
countries.
This region of unrestricted borders is called the Schengen Area.
But as migrants have entered the EU, many have run afoul of the Dublin Regulation, which
says asylum seekers must apply for asylum in the first country they arrive.
However, many have continued on, travelling to Germany and Sweden.
In late January of 2016, the EU threatened to suspend Greece from the Schengen Area entirely,
citing Greece’s inability to effectively filter incoming asylum seekers.
A number of Schengen participating countries, including Austria, Denmark, France, Germany,
Norway, and Sweden, have already enacted border controls.
This crisis has many wondering if a borderless Europe will soon be a thing of the past.
In particular, Germany has faced considerable criticism for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s
refusal to cap the number of migrants.
However, Germany, and a number of other countries, have begun deportation, whether to home countries
or simply neighboring European countries.
Migrants, predominantly from Afghanistan, Morocco, and Algeria have been sent to Austria
from Germany, at a rate of roughly 200 a day.
Over the course of 2016, Sweden has prepared to expel an estimated 80,000 asylum seekers,
based on a rejection rate of about 45%.
There have also been plans to send seafaring migrants back to Turkey as they arrive in
Greece.
But Turkey has only agreed to accept returned migrants on the condition that the EU accept
up to a quarter of a million migrants per year.
But besides border control and deportation, some countries have turned to more aggressive,
and in some ways, disturbing practices.
In an effort to deter asylum seekers, Denmark’s parliament recently approved the confiscation
of valuables from incoming refugees.
For those seeking entry, any cash over roughly $1,500 dollars would be taken to cover the
cost of food and lodging in the asylum process.
Some have likened this to similar actions by Nazi Germany, which took Jewish belongings
during World War II.
In Great Britain, a private company in charge of caring for asylum seekers recently cancelled
a plan to make refugees wear colored wristbands in order to receive food.
This drew comparisons to Jews having to wear armbands identifying them as such.
While some actions by European countries are understandable in the wake of unexpected mass
migration, there is no question that European, Middle Eastern, and North African leaders
need to find a working solution.
Until they do, both migrants, and European residents will continue clashing and suffering
from this unprecedented crisis.
CTA
The migrant crisis is splitting up thousands of families across Europe.
If you’re interested in a more personal look, watch this mini documentary I did with
Fusion about two refugee brothers separated from each other and their families.
You can also watch another TestTube News video about what role the EU has had in the migrant
crisis.
Thanks for watching Test Tube News, make sure to like and subscribe for new videos every
day.
So what rights do refugees actually have?
Check out this video at the top to find out.
You can also watch the video at the bottom about what role the EU has had in the migrant
crisis.
Thanks for watching Test Tube News, make sure to like and subscribe for new videos every
day.