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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for illegal migration
18 results foundAuthor: Mahmoud, Toman Omar Title: The Economic Drivers of Human Trafficking: Micro-Evidence from Five Eastern European Countires Summary: Human trafficking is a humanitarian problem of global scale, but quantitative research on the issue barely exists. This paper is a first attempt to explore the economic drivers of human trafficking and migrant exploitation using micro data. The paper argues that migration pressure combined with informal migration patterns and incomplete information are the key determinants of human trafficking. To test this argument, the study uses a unique new dataset of 5513 households from Belarus, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine. The main result is in line with expectations: migrant families in high migration areas and with larger migrant networks are much more likely to have a trafficked victim among their members. The results also indicate that illegal migration increases trafficking risks and that awareness campaigns and a reduction of information asymmetries might be an effective strategy to reduce the crime. Details: Kiel, Germany: Kiel Institute for the World Economy, 2009. 24p. Source: Internet Resource; Kiel Working Papers No. 1480 Year: 2009 Country: Europe URL: Shelf Number: 118686 Keywords: Human TraffickingIllegal MigrationMigrants |
Author: Monzini, Paola Title: Smuggling of Migrants Into, Through and From North Africa: A Thematic Review and Annotated Bibliography of Recent Publications Summary: “Smuggling of migrants” is defined in article 3 of the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, as “the procurement, in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit, of the illegal entry of a person into a State Party of which the person is not a national or a permanent resident”. Article 6 of the Protocol requires the criminalization of such conduct and that of enabling a person who is not a national or a permanent resident to remain in the State concerned without complying with the necessary requirements for legally remaining in the State by producing a fraudulent travel or identity document, or procuring, providing or possessing such a document, or any other illegal means in order to obtain a financial or other material benefit. Based upon this definition, the purpose and scope of this publication is to survey existing sources and research papers on smuggling of migrants into, through and from North Africa reflecting the current state of academic knowledge, as well as knowledge gaps and discussions on the subject. This study has two main United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2241, No. 39574. objectives: to describe major findings on smuggling of migrants into, through and from North Africa, and to highlight the need for further research on specific issues that have not yet been studied and on areas where little analysis has yet been carried out. The publication reviews literature that has been published by academics, journalists, international organizations and non-governmental organizations. The reviewed literature was selected on the basis of its thematic relevance and date and the language of publication: only publications in English, French and Italian were reviewed. The research does not pretend to be comprehensive. As far as the geographical scope of the review is concerned, it is important to note that it actually goes beyond the North African countries, because irregular migration and smuggling flows are transnational in nature; they often originate and/or end in the North African region. For this reason, sub-Saharan African and European countries are also considered. The presence of smugglers is recorded mainly in relation to crossing of the Sahara Desert and the maritime passages to Europe. Thus, while the main focus of the review is on North African countries (Algeria, Egypt, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco and Tunisia), literature considering countries of origin and transit such as Mali, the Niger and the Sudan, and countries of destination and transit, such as Greece, Italy and Spain, has also been reviewed to some extent. As far as the routes to Europe are concerned, those ending in Spain have not been given the same attention in this review as have journeys ending on Italian shores. Some of the most important theoretical research papers published on the subject of migrant smuggling in general have also been considered. Where statistical data and other figures are quoted, reference is made to their source. The review is divided into thematic chapters that review research publications on the following topics: •• Quantifying irregular migration and smuggling of migrants into, through and from North Africa •• The geography of migrant smuggling routes •• Profiles and characteristics of smuggled migrants •• Smuggler-migrant relationships •• Organizational structures of migrant-smuggling networks •• Modus operandi of migrant smugglers •• Smuggling fees •• Human and social costs of smuggling Finally, the thematic review presents a summary of major findings, highlighting the challenges of carrying out research into the issue of migrant smuggling and the gaps in that research. The review is complemented by an annotated bibliography of the relevant literature. Details: Vienna: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2010. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 2, 2011 at: http://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/Migrant_smuggling_in_North_Africa_June_2010_ebook_E_09-87293.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/Migrant_smuggling_in_North_Africa_June_2010_ebook_E_09-87293.pdf Shelf Number: 120680 Keywords: Human SmugglingHuman TraffickingIllegal Migration |
Author: Fitz, Marshall Title: Safer than Ever: A View from the U.S.–Mexico Border: Assessing the Past, Present, and Future Summary: A recent trip by this author and several colleagues to study the Arizona border was eye-opening. Not because we encountered scores of headless bodies, but because the border landscape has changed so dramatically in the last five years both literally and figuratively. Hundreds of miles of severe fencing, vehicle barriers, radio towers, flood lighting, and access roads have degraded the border’s aesthetics and environmental quality. But in conjunction with surges in manpower and technology, this added infrastructure has also undeniably and fundamentally enhanced the Border Patrol’s ability to prevent and intercept unauthorized migrants and smugglers. All the recent statistics tell us that illegal immigration flows at our southern border have slowed dramatically. Numbers tell us that we no longer have a border across which thousands of people traverse illegally every day without our knowledge. Instead we have a border where the vast majority of attempted entries are identified and a far larger percentage of entrants are apprehended than ever before. Moreover, recent reports persuasively demonstrate that violent crime rates along the U.S.-Mexico border have been falling for years and that border cities of all sizes have maintained crime rates below the national average. A first-hand view only emphasizes the point while begging an even bigger question: Why hasn’t the story of this transformation penetrated the national dialogue on immigration policy? Rather than acknowledge the remarkable advances that have occurred, immigration reform opponents level sensational — and often patently false — claims meant to scare the public about border violence and insecurity. Although everyone is entitled to their views, our policymakers should not be entitled to mislead the public about something as important as border security merely to advance an ideological policy agenda. This report rebuts these policymakers’ fallacious claims and argues that the changes on the ground at the border demand a change in the conversation in Washington. We first catalog the massive resource deployment and infrastructure buildup at the border since 1993. We then describe the profound impact that deployment has had on unlawful migration flows: Fewer attempted entries plus a greater rate of apprehension equals a steep decline in successful illegal entries. Next we detail a number of unintended negative consequences that have resulted from advancing this border buildup without enacting concomitant reforms. Finally, we argue that the circumstances on the ground present us with a unique opportunity to secure the gains in border control while negating the counterproductive byproducts of those gains. Details: Washington, DC: Center for American Progress, 2011. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2011 at: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/08/pdf/safer_than_ever_report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/08/pdf/safer_than_ever_report.pdf Shelf Number: 122358 Keywords: Border SecurityIllegal ImmigrantsIllegal Migration |
Author: International Centre for Migration Policy Development Title: Yearbook on Illegal Migration, Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Central and Eastern Europe: A Survey and Analysis of Border Management and Border Apprehension Data from 2008: Including: Special Survey on the 2007 Enlargement of the Schengen Area Summary: Based on the contributions of the border services of 22 Central and Eastern European states, this Yearbook again provides a unique compilation and overview of irregular migration trends in the region. This year’s edition comprehensively covers the region and features major improvements in the quality and analysis of the compiled data. Like its predecessors, this book will be an indispensable source for all scholars and practitioners interested in irregular migration. Details: Vienna: International Centre for Migration Policy Development, 2010. 250p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 10, 2011 at: http://research.icmpd.org/fileadmin/Research-Website/Publications/reports_and_studies/ICMPD-Yearbook-of-Illegal-Migration-in-2008-with_cover.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Europe URL: http://research.icmpd.org/fileadmin/Research-Website/Publications/reports_and_studies/ICMPD-Yearbook-of-Illegal-Migration-in-2008-with_cover.pdf Shelf Number: 123305 Keywords: Human SmugglingHuman TraffickingIllegal MigrationMigration (Europe) |
Author: Piekielek, Jessica A. Title: Public Wildlands at the U.S.-Mexico: Where Conservation, Migration, and Border Enforcement Collide Summary: This dissertation examines changing relationships among natural landscapes and state agencies, as these relationships intersect in transboundary protected wildlands and in debates about natural resource protection and U.S.-Mexico border policy. Recent increases in undocumented migration, smuggling, and border enforcement along the Arizona-Sonora border impact ecology and public land management practices. In this dissertation, I analyze how natural and national spaces and boundaries are produced through institutional and individual practices and discourses in border wildlands. Further, I consider how different productions of space restrict or create opportunities for collaborative responses to ecological impacts resulting from migration, smuggling, and border enforcement. This research builds on anthropological scholarship on conservation, borders, and the production of space through an ethnography of conservation institutions as they face dramatic political and ecological changes in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. Details: Arizona: University of Arizona, 2009. 264p. Source: Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 124098 Keywords: Border Security (U.S.) (Mexico)Environmental CrimeIllegal MigrationWildlife Conservation |
Author: Friebel, Guido Title: Human Smuggling Summary: Despite its importance in global illegal migration, there is little, and mostly theoretical research on human smuggling. We suggest an analytical framework to understand the micro structure of the human smuggling market. Migrants interact with smuggling and financing intermediaries; these may or may not be integrated with each other, and with the migrants' employers. Policies of receiving countries (border controls, employer sanctions, deportation policies, sales of visa) affect the interactions in the smuggling market, and, hence, migration flows. We review the theoretical work, point to the scarce empirical evidence, and identify challenges for future theoretical, empirical work and policy advice. Details: Bonn, Germany: Institute for the Study of Labor (IXA), 2012. 28p. Source: IZA Discussion Paper No. 6350: Internet Resource: Accessed March 14, 2012 at http://ftp.iza.org/dp6350.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp6350.pdf Shelf Number: 124541 Keywords: Human SmugglingIllegal MigrationTrafficking |
Author: Friebel, Guido Title: Smuggling Humans: A Theory of Debt-Financed Migration Summary: We introduce financial constraints in a theoretical analysis of illegal immigration. Intermediaries finance the migration costs of wealth-constrained migrants, who enter temporary servitude contracts to repay the debt. These debt/labor contracts are easier to enforce in the illegal than in the legal sector of the host country. Hence, when moving from the illegal to the legal sector becomes more costly, for instance, because of stricter deportation policies, fewer immigrants default on debt. This reduces the risks for intermediaries, who are then more willing to finance illegal migration. Stricter deportation policies may thus, ex ante, increase rather than decrease the flow of illegal migrants. Furthermore, stricter deportation policies worsen the skill composition of immigrants. While stricter border controls decrease overall immigration, they may result in an increase of debt-financed migration. We also show that there are complementarities between employer sanctions and deportation policies. We use available evidence to check the empirical consistency of the theory. Details: Bonn, Germany: Insitute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Undated. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 14, 2012 at http://pages.nes.ru/sguriev/papers/Friebel-Guriev.pdf Year: 0 Country: International URL: http://pages.nes.ru/sguriev/papers/Friebel-Guriev.pdf Shelf Number: 124542 Keywords: Debt BondageHuman SmugglingIllegal Migration |
Author: Isacson, Adam Title: Beyond the Border Buildup Security and Migrants Along the U.S.-Mexico Border Summary: Once relatively quiet and neglected, the U.S.-Mexico border zone is a very different place than it was twenty years ago, or even ten years ago. Today, border communities are separated by both security measures and security conditions. South of the borderline, a spiral of organized crime has made Mexico’s northern states one of the world’s most violent regions. North of the borderline, a “war on drugs,” a “war on terror,” and rising anti-immigrant sentiment have encouraged a flurry of fence-building and a multiplied presence of guards, spies, and soldiers. Together, both sides comprise one of the world’s principal corridors for the transshipment of illegal drugs and weapons. The population most affected by this sharp change in threats, vigilance, and attitudes is the hundreds of thousands of undocumented people who seek every year to migrate into the United States. Some come because of the promise of economic opportunity, or the lack of it in their countries of origin, mostly Mexico and Central America. Some come to escape violence or poor governance. A growing proportion comes to be reunited with loved ones already in the United States. The number of migrants is less than it used to be, for reasons that this report will explore. But after the changes of the past several years, migrants face a much greater risk of being kidnapped and extorted by criminals and corrupt officials in Mexico; finding themselves mired in the U.S. criminal justice system; or even dying in a desert wilderness. This report is the product of a yearlong study of border security policy and its impact on the migrant population. On the U.S. side, we visited three border regions and carried out extensive research in Washington. In Mexico, we conducted surveys of migrants, and met with Mexican officials and representatives of civil society and migrant shelters. Details: Washington, DC: Washington Office on Latin America, 2012. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2012 at: http://justf.org/files/pubs/120419_WOLA_Beyond.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://justf.org/files/pubs/120419_WOLA_Beyond.pdf Shelf Number: 125124 Keywords: Border SecurityDrug TraffickingIllegal AliensIllegal ImmigrantsIllegal MigrationOrganized Crime |
Author: Mo, Pak Hung Title: International Human Trafficking: Theory and Solution. Summary: In this paper, we build a simple model to explain the choice of migration method and the root causes of international human trafficking (IHT). Our analyses result in several implications on the problems related to IHT. First, IHT is driven by poverty and international productivity/living quality disparities. Second, the existing humanitarian and/or suppressive approaches cannot solve the problem. Third, the best option for solving the problem is setting up the ‘reciprocal direct investment’ (RDI) scheme between leading and lagged economies. The RDI scheme can facilitate improvements in the quality of public governance in lagged economies and directly promote international competition, efficiency, trade liberalization and division of labor. The resulting convergence in global living quality at a higher level across nations will eliminate the root causes of illicit migrations. Details: Hong Kong: Hong Kong Baptist Unviersity, 2011. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: MPRA Paper No. 35104: Accessed July 24, 2012 at: http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/35104/1/MPRA_paper_35104.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/35104/1/MPRA_paper_35104.pdf Shelf Number: 125760 Keywords: Economic ConditionsHuman TraffickingIllegal MigrationPovertySex Trafficking |
Author: Meyer, Maureen Title: On the Front Lines: Border Security, Migration, and Humanitarian Concerns in South Texas Summary: In December 2014, WOLA paid its third visit in two years to the Rio Grande Valley, the part of the U.S.-Mexico border closest to the Gulf of Mexico, in south Texas. This region made headlines in summer 2014 as tens of thousands of unaccompanied Central American children crossed the border here. This crisis has declined somewhat, but 2015 is still on track to be the second-largest year on record for Central American child and family migration to the United States, most of it in the Rio Grande Valley. But this is just one crisis that this region is suffering. The Rio Grande Valley now records the highest number of migrants dying of dehydration and exposure as they walk through its arid ranch lands. It sits across from what is today the most violent segment of Mexico's border zone. This segment receives the largest portion of Mexican citizens deported by the United States, who face acute safety concerns upon their return. The situation on both sides of the border is extremely difficult: for migrants, for residents on the Mexican side, and for U.S. and Mexican law enforcement personnel who have to contend with it. It requires Washington and Mexico City to take bold and humane actions. This report recommends several. Details: Washington, DC: Washington Office on Latin America, 2015. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 9, 2015 at: http://www.wola.org/sites/default/files/MX/WOLA%20Report_South%20Texas%20Border%202015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.wola.org/sites/default/files/MX/WOLA%20Report_South%20Texas%20Border%202015.pdf Shelf Number: 134763 Keywords: Border Security (U.S.)DeportationIllegal MigrationImmigration PolicyMigrants |
Author: Dustmann, Christian Title: Illegal Migration and Consumption Behavior of Immigrant Households Summary: We analyze the effect of immigrants' legal status on their consumption behavior using unique survey data that samples both documented and undocumented immigrants. To address the problem of sorting into legal status, we propose two alternative identification strategies as exogenous source of variation for current legal status: First, transitory income shocks in the home country, measured as rainfall shocks at the time of emigration. Second, amnesty quotas that grant legal residence status to undocumented immigrants. Both sources of variation create a strong first stage, and - although very different in nature - lead to similar estimates of the effects of illegal status on consumption, with undocumented immigrants consuming about 40% less than documented immigrants, conditional on background characteristics. Roughly one quarter of this decrease is explained by undocumented immigrants having lower incomes than documented immigrants. Our findings imply that legalization programs may have a potentially important effect on immigrants' consumption behavior, with consequences for both the source and host countries. Details: Munich: Center for Economic Studies (CESifo), 2016. 69p. Source: Internet Resource: CESifo Working Paper No. 5822: Accessed April 6, 2016 at: http://www.cesifo-group.de/ifoHome/publications/working-papers/CESifoWP/CESifoWPdetails?wp_num=5822&CESifoWP.search=+ Year: 2016 Country: Germany URL: http://www.cesifo-group.de/ifoHome/publications/working-papers/CESifoWP/CESifoWPdetails?wp_num=5822&CESifoWP.search=+ Shelf Number: 138570 Keywords: Illegal MigrationImmigration EnforcementMigrantsUndocumented Immigrants |
Author: Neville, Darren Title: Internal border controls in the Schengen area: is Schengen crisis-proof ? Summary: This study, commissioned by the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizen's Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the LIBE Committee, analyses the Schengen area in the wake of the European 'refugee crisis' and other recent developments. With several Member States reintroducing temporary internal border controls over recent months, the study assesses compliance with the Schengen governance framework in this context . Despite suggestions that the end of Schengen is nigh or arguments that there is a need to get 'back to Schengen', the research demonstrates that Schengen is alive and well and that border controls have, at least formally, complied with the legal framework. Nonetheless, better monitoring and democratic accountability are necessary. Details: Brussels: Policy Department C: Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs, European Parliament, 2016. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2016 at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/571356/IPOL_STU(2016)571356_EN.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/571356/IPOL_STU(2016)571356_EN.pdf Shelf Number: 139587 Keywords: Human SmugglingHuman TraffickingIllegal MigrationMigration (Europe)Refugees |
Author: Schloenhardt, Andreas Title: Irregular migration and associated crime in Pakistan: a review of the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) training programmes Summary: This report reviews existing training programmes on irregular migration and associated crime offered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and develops recommendations to enhance the training of FIA officers and other law enforcement personnel in this field. Irregular migration, especially in the form of migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons, and associated criminal activities such as money laundering, document fraud, and corruption, are of imminent concern to Pakistan. Trafficking in persons is the acquisition of people by improper means such as force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them. Smuggling of migrants involves the procurement for financial or other material benefit of illegal entry of a person into a State of which that person is not a national or resident. Virtually every country in the world is affected by these crimes. Recent reports confirm that Pakistan is simultaneously a sending, transit, and destination point for smuggled migrants and trafficked persons. Domestic trafficking, especially of women and children, is also of ongoing concern. The challenge for all countries, rich and poor, is to target the criminals who exploit desperate people and to protect and assist victims of trafficking and smuggled migrants, many of whom endure unimaginable hardships in their bid for a better life. Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), as the country's chief national law enforcement agency, has a mandate to prevent and suppress trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling and is in a unique position to comprehensively combat these phenomena, along with associated crime such as money laundering, document fraud, and corruption. In response to the emergence of migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons, the Government of Pakistan has taken decisive action to develop national strategies to prevent and suppress these crime types and protect the rights of victims. In 2002, a Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance was enacted. This was followed by the development of a National Action Plan for Combating Human Trafficking and the creation of an Anti-Trafficking Unit within the FIA. UNODC, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, is the guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children and the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Air, and Sea. UNODC leads international efforts to comprehensively prevent and suppress migrant smuggling and trafficking in persons and protect the victims of these heinous crimes. UNODC's Country Office in Islamabad stands ready to assist Pakistan's authorities in their efforts. Details: Pakistan: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2011. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 25, 2016 at: https://www.unodc.org/documents/pakistan/2011.10.00_Irregular_Migration_Associated_Crime_in_PakTNA_of_FIA_Academy_fin.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Pakistan URL: https://www.unodc.org/documents/pakistan/2011.10.00_Irregular_Migration_Associated_Crime_in_PakTNA_of_FIA_Academy_fin.pdf Shelf Number: 139856 Keywords: Human SmugglingHuman TraffickingIllegal MigrationMigrantsOrganized Crime |
Author: Achilli, Luigi Title: The Smuggler: Hero or Felon? Summary: The general public and the media have had fun fantasising about the motives and interests that push migrants to embark on dangerous journeys across the sea. Smuggling is often understood through a simplification of both the clandestine traveller and the smuggler: a process of abstraction that overlooks any ambiguities and nuances. While researchers have abundantly studied the profile of the migrant, they had been less interested in the other key actor of the clandestine migration: the smuggler. Who is the smuggler? How does s/he operate? Why do migrants place their lives in the smugglers hands? The goal of this paper is to attend to the complexity of the phenomenon by looking at human smuggling across the Adriatic Sea. In light of the need to elaborate an adequate policy response to this phenomenon, a better understanding of smuggling is pivotal in ensuring the security of the receiving state and that of the migrant. With this task in mind, this paper problematizes the figure of the smugglers beyond overly simplistic generalizations and representations. In so doing, this paper argues that a truly effective answer to human smuggling would require the EU and its state members to concentrate on reducing demand rather than curbing supply. Details: Florence, Italy: Migration Policy Centre, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies - European University Institute, 2015. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief: Accessed September 7, 2016 at: http://cadmus.eui.eu/bitstream/handle/1814/36296/MPC_2015_10_PB.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://cadmus.eui.eu/bitstream/handle/1814/36296/MPC_2015_10_PB.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 140222 Keywords: Human SmugglingIllegal MigrantsIllegal MigrationMigrants |
Author: McKenzie, David Title: Eliciting Illegal migration rates through list randomization Summary: Most migration surveys do not ask about the legal status of migrants due to concerns about the sensitivity of this question List randomization is a technique that has been used in a number of other social science applications to elicit sensitive information This paper trials this technique by adding it to surveys conducted in Ethiopia, Mexico, Morocco, and the Philippines It shows how, in principal, this can be used both to give an estimate of the over rate of illegal migration in the population being surveyed, as well as to determine illegal migration rates for subgroups such as more or less educated households The results suggest that there is some useful information in this method: higher rates of illegal migration in countries where illegal migration is thought to be more prevalent and households who say they have a migrant are more likely to report having an illegal migrant Nevertheless, some of the other findings also suggest some possible inconsistencies or noise in the conclusions obtained using this method The authors suggest directions for future attempts to implement this approach in migration surveys Details: London: Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration, Department of Economics, University College London, 2013. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: CReAM Discussion Paper Series, no. 10/13: Accessed November 17, 2016 at: http://www.cream-migration.org/publ_uploads/CDP_10_13.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.cream-migration.org/publ_uploads/CDP_10_13.pdf Shelf Number: 144853 Keywords: Illegal ImmigrantsIllegal MigrationMigrants |
Author: Carrera, Sergio Title: Irregular Migration, Trafficking and Smuggling of Human Beings: Policy Dilemmas in the EU Summary: While the current migration and refugee crisis is the most severe that the world has known since the end of the Second World War (with over 60 million refugees worldwide, according to the UNHCR), it may turn into the norm, because the reasons to migrate keep on multiplying. These reasons range from long-lasting political crises, endemic civil wars, atrocities committed against ethnic or religious groups by extremist organisations to the lack of economic development prospects and climate change. The European Union has a duty to welcome some of these people – namely those who need international protection. With over a million irregular migrants crossing its external borders in 2015, the European Union has to engage in a deep reflection on the rationale underpinning its policies on irregular migration and migrant smuggling – and their effects. At such a strenuous time, the challenge before us is “to work closely together in a spirit of solidarity” while the “need to secure Europe’s borders” remains an imperative, to recall President Juncker’s words. Of particular relevance in this framework is the issue of migrant smuggling, or facilitation of irregular entry, stay or transit. Addressing migrant smuggling – located at the intersection of criminal law, which sanctions organised crime, the management of migration and the protection of the fundamental rights of irregular migrants – has become a pressing priority. But the prevention of and fight against migrant smuggling is a complex process, affected by contextual factors, including a high level of economic and social disparity between the EU and several third countries, difficult cooperation with source and transit countries and limited legal migration channels to the EU. In this framework, the European Commission tabled two agendas prioritising the fight against migrant smuggling. The European Agenda on Security, adopted in April 2015, and the European Agenda on Migration, presented in May 2015, both attach major importance to cooperation against the smuggling of migrants inside the EU and from third countries. Shortly afterwards, to operationalise these frameworks, the European Commission presented the EU Action Plan against Migrant Smuggling, in May 2015. It foresees a comprehensive, multidisciplinary response against migrant smuggling involving relevant stakeholders and institutions at all levels. The Action Plan covers all phases and types of migrant smuggling and all migratory routes, including the facilitation of secondary movement, unauthorised residence within the EU and the necessity to enforce return and readmission procedures. It endorses a comprehensive approach ranging from preventive action targeting potential migrants in countries of origin and transit to measures against smuggling rings operating along the migratory routes, while ensuring the full respect of the human rights of migrants. The implementation, involving different actors and organisations at local, regional, national and international levels, as well as EU agencies, is coordinated by the Commission. The Action Plan sets out both short-term and long-term objectives around four main priorities: reinforcing investigation and prosecution of smugglers; improved information gathering, sharing and analysis; better prevention of smuggling and assisting vulnerable migrants and enhancing cooperation with third countries. The Action Plan underlines the critical need to collect and share information on the modus operandi, routes and economic models of smuggling networks in order to understand the business model of criminal networks and design adequate responses. In this framework, full use should be made of the available risk analyses and monitoring of pre-frontier areas. The dissemination of information related to the external borders will be increased with the support of Eurosur, while further research on the phenomena and on the links with other crimes needs to be initiated. The relevant EU agencies must scale up their work on migrant smuggling. Their resources devoted to migrant smuggling have been increased substantially. Europol’s new European Migrant Smuggling Centre should become the EU information hub in the fight against migrant smuggling. The presence of both Europol and Frontex in the hotspots of frontline member states is crucial for gathering and processing information – and for launching investigations leading to prosecutions. Funded by the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research, the FIDUCIA project has promoted research on the role of trust-based policies in legal compliance in the field of migration, through the work done by the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) and a group of academics. The initiative aims to stimulate evidence-based policy-making and to bring fresh thinking to develop more effective policies. The European Commission welcomes the valuable contribution of this initiative to help close the wide gap in our knowledge about the smuggling of migrants, and especially the functioning of smuggling networks. Details: Brussels: Centre for European Policy Studies, 2016. 112p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 19, 2016 at: https://www.ceps.eu/system/files/Irregular%20Migration,%20Trafficking%20and%20SmugglingwithCovers.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: https://www.ceps.eu/system/files/Irregular%20Migration,%20Trafficking%20and%20SmugglingwithCovers.pdf Shelf Number: 147762 Keywords: Border SecurityHuman SmugglingHuman TraffickingIllegal MigrationMigrantsMigrations |
Author: Europe. House of Lords. European Union Committee Title: Operation Sophia: A failed mission Summary: Judged against its mandate, the EU's naval mission, Operation Sophia, has failed to achieve its objective of "contributing to the disruption of the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks in the Southern Central Mediterranean". Irregular migration into Europe on the central Mediterranean route increased by 18% in 2016, and by another 19% in the first six months of 2017 compared to 2016. As we concluded in our report of May 2016, the mission faces "an impossible challenge". Faced with rising migration across the central Mediterranean, there is considerable pressure on EU governments to 'do something'. But a naval mission is the wrong tool to tackle irregular migration which begins onshore: once the boats have set sail, it is too late to undermine the business of people smuggling. An unintended consequence of Operation Sophia's destruction of vessels has been that the smugglers have adapted, sending migrants to sea in unseaworthy vessels. This has led to a tragic increase in deaths - 2,150 in 2017 to date. The existence of a unified government in Libya, able to provide security across the country and work with the EU on migration, is a precondition for meaningful action against people smuggling networks onshore. The Government of National Accord cannot, at present, fulfil this role. We are encouraged by the recent discussions towards modifying the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) - to secure the support of the House of Representatives - and welcome renewed UK and EU support to the political process. Nonetheless, political and security conditions in Libya are unlikely to improve sufficiently to allow onshore operations by the EU any time soon. We therefore see little reason to renew the mandate of Operation Sophia in its current form beyond July 2017. This is not an argument for doing nothing. Search and rescue is a vital humanitarian obligation, which the EU must continue to fulfil, using more suitable vessels than the high-end air and naval assets of Operation Sophia. It is too early to assess the effectiveness of recent efforts by the EU to train the Libyan coastguard, but we note that this training could be maintained outside the mandate of Operation Sophia. The EU and the UK should also maintain their counter-migration efforts across Sub-Saharan Africa, including outreach and development work in source and transit countries, law enforcement co-operation, and assisting the voluntary repatriation of migrants from Libya. Although we did not investigate this in detail, supporting economic development and good governance in these countries is the only way that mass migration can be addressed in the long term. Meanwhile, should there be more propitious security conditions in Libya following negotiations on the LPA, the EU may be able to secure political agreement with the Libyan Government for a new Common Security and Defence Policy mission to combat irregular migration on the southern border. Planning for such a mission should be undertaken, for implementation as and when the political and security conditions in Libya allow Details: Brussels: European Parliament, 2017. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: HL Paper 5: Accessed August 7, 2017 at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201719/ldselect/ldeucom/5/5.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Europe URL: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201719/ldselect/ldeucom/5/5.pdf Shelf Number: 146758 Keywords: Human Smuggling Human Trafficking Illegal Migration |
Author: European Commission Title: Report on the progress made in the fight against trafficking in human beings (2016) as required under Article 20 of Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims Summary: This paper complements the first European Commission Report on the progress made in the fight against trafficking in human beings as required under article 20 of Directive 2011/36/EU (hereafter "the Report"). It aims to provide a factual overview of the main current trends, actions, and statistical data on trafficking in human beings in the EU, as reported by Member States, civil society and international organisations. The paper elaborates in detail on the measures reported by the Member States to address trafficking in human beings, and additionally takes into consideration actions implemented by the European Commission and other relevant stakeholders in the context of the EU Strategy towards the eradication of trafficking in human beings 2012-2016 (hereafter "the EU Strategy"). A key focus of the EU Strategy has, in fact, been on developing concrete actions to support the implementation of the Anti-trafficking Directive by complementing the work done by the Member States. The EU Strategy actions are based on five priorities: identifying, protecting and assisting victims of trafficking; stepping up the prevention of trafficking in human beings; increased prosecutions of traffickers; enhanced coordination and cooperation among key actors and policy coherence; and increased knowledge of - and effective response to - emerging concerns related to all forms of trafficking in human beings. The paper elaborates on the topics presented in the Report in selected areas of the 'three Ps', prosecution (with focus on financial investigations), protection (with focus on the setting up of national referral mechanisms) and prevention (with focus on actions taken by Member States to prevent the crime as provided by Article 18 of the Anti-trafficking Directive). Furthermore, the paper takes into account the key EU policy framework in addressing trafficking in human beings, including: the European Agenda on Migration ; the European Agenda on Security ; the EU Action Plan against migrant smuggling 2015-2020 ; the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2015-2019 ; the new framework for the EU's activities on gender equality and women's empowerment in EU's external relations for 2016-2020 and the Strategic engagement of the EU for gender equality 2016-2019. The first section of this Staff Working Document describes the methodology and information sources used for drafting both the Report and this document. The following sections mirror the structure of the Report by providing detailed and factual elements on: trends in trafficking in human beings; results of specific anti-trafficking actions; and statistical data provided by the Member States. Details: Brussels: European Commission, 2017. 97p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2018 at: http://humantraffickingsearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/commission_report_on_the_progress_made_in_the_fight_against_trafficking_in_human_beings_2016_swd_en.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: http://humantraffickingsearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/commission_report_on_the_progress_made_in_the_fight_against_trafficking_in_human_beings_2016_swd_en.pdf Shelf Number: 149867 Keywords: Human Rights AbusesHuman SmugglingHuman TraffickingIllegal MigrationMigrant Smuggling |