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Sweden loses patience with refugee champion role

EU Times — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:49:50 +0000

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Six years after his brother was beheaded by Iraqi insurgents, Riyad is still haunted by the memory of identifying the disfigured body and watching the mutilation on a video distributed by the killers.

Yet Riyad now has fresh worries to contend with: the threat of deportation from Sweden, which recently rejected his application for asylum. “They murdered my brother and would have done the same to me,” he told an immigration official in a secretly recorded meeting broadcast on Radio Sweden.

“Yes, I know that,” replied the official. “But it doesn’t count that they might do the same thing to you; you have to prove there is an actual threat.”

Riyad, who worked with his brother on a US army base, was drawn to Sweden by its reputation as the most welcoming European country for Iraqi asylum-seekers, having absorbed tens of thousands in the past decade. In the past two years, however, numbers have dropped sharply as Sweden shows signs of losing patience with its role as champion of refugee rights.

In 2007, 18,559 Iraqis sought asylum in Sweden and nearly three-quarters were accepted. Last year the number arriving was 2,297 – and less than a quarter were granted asylum.

The decline can be explained partly by better security in Iraq. But experts say the main factor was a Swedish court ruling in 2008 placing a greater burden on refugees to prove they were in danger.

Tobias Billström, Sweden’s migration minister, insists there was no political involvement in the ruling, but the centre-right government has been quick to stress the court’s message. “Now you have to show there is a real threat,” he says. “You cannot just turn up and say you’re from Iraq.”

The tougher approach is welcomed by some Swedes, amid unease over the changing face of their traditionally homogenous society. More than a tenth of the population is now foreign-born, with Iraqis among the largest group.

Anti-immigration sentiment could make itself felt in next month’s general election, with opinion polls suggesting the far-right Sweden Democrats could win their first seat in parliament.

Few places feel the tension more than Södertälje, an industrial town where 8,000 Iraqis live, many in high-rise ghettos. Anders Lago, the town’s Social Democratic mayor, says the strain on public services is unsustainable. “We need a new system. Södertälje cannot take care of everybody.”

Behind Sweden’s new approach lies frustration that other European Union states have not taken more refugees. Before the ruling, Sweden received about 60 per cent of Iraqi asylum applications in the EU.

If Stockholm is sending a message to other countries, critics say it has come at a heavy price for vulnerable refugees. It was among four European nations recently rebuked by the UNHCR for forcibly deporting asylum-seekers to Iraq despite the continuing violence.

Mikael Ribbenvik, director of legal affairs for the Swedish migration board, said his agency had issued new recommendations to take account of persecution of minorities in Iraq – a sign, perhaps, Sweden is anxious not to let its humanitarian halo slip too far. But this may be too late for Riyad, who says he would be at risk in Iraq not only because of his past ties to the US military, but also his Christian faith. “I don’t have to remain here,” he told Radio Sweden. “Just send me anywhere in the world – except Iraq.”

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Italy inspired by France to expel citizens from other EU states by September

EU Times — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:42:48 +0000

A beggar on the streets of Venice. The Italian remarks come hot on the heels of Roma expulsions in France

Italy has said it intends to expel citizens from other EU states if they are not able to support themselves, in a move apparently inspired by France’s current crackdown on Roma.

Interior Minister Roberto Maroni told daily newspaper Corriere della Sera on Saturday (21 August) that French president Nicolas Sarkozy – whose recent actions include closing down Roma camps and deporting around 200 Roma to date – is “right.”

The minister, from the anti-immigrant Northern League Party, said that “if anything, it’s time to go a step further” and referred to the mandatory expulsion of EU citizens who do not meet certain criteria.

“Yes, expulsions just like those for illegal immigrants, not assisted or voluntary repatriations. Of course only for those who violate rules on requirements for living in another member state: a minimum level of income, adequate housing and not being a burden on the social welfare system of the country hosting them.”

“Many Roma are EU citizens but do not respect any of these requirements,” he said. But added, when asked if this would be discriminatory, that the policy should apply to all EU citizens and not just Roma.

“If anything, the problem is something else: unlike in France, many Roma and Sinti here have Italian citizenship. They have the right to remain here. Nothing can be done.”

Mr Maroni admitted that previous attempt by Rome to go in this direction were shot down by the European Commission but said he intends to re-raise the issue of automatic expulsions at a meeting of EU interior ministers in Paris on 6 September.

In 2008, the commission threatened Italy with legal action if it went ahead with a decree allowing the expulsion of other EU citizens facing two years of jail. It gave its blessing to a controversial proposal by Italy to fingerprint Roma, however.

Some in Italy have suggested there is a discrepancy between the relatively strong reaction by Brussels to Italy two years ago compared with its muted response to Mr Sarkozy’s policy towards the Roma community.

According to Mr Maroni this is due to an old “prejudice” whereby a policy carried out by a minister from the Northern League, a junior coalition partner in Rome’s right-wing government, is assumed to “violate human rights.”

France

Mr Sarkozy’s government deported around 10,000 Roma to Romania and Bulgaria last year but the current raids against against a planned total of 300 Roma camps come after the French president for the first time expressly linked immigration and crime.

The European Commission, for its part, has said it is monitoring the situation in France noting that any deportation decisions must be proportionate and carried out on a case-by-case basis, with human rights watchdogs already questioning whether these criteria are being fulfilled.

Meanwhile, critics of Mr Sarkozy’s policy have suggested that the Roma will simply return as soon as they are able.

They also suggest that Paris is contributing to a vicious circle due to its decision to maintain until 2014 rules restricting access to the labour market to nationals from Bulgaria and Romania – where the majority of Roma come from – and with it a means of supporting themselves.

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Nearly Half of United States Considering Arizona-Style Immigration Legislation

EU Times — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:01:15 +0000

In this June 15, 2010 file photo, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer speaks in Phoenix. With the scrawl of a pen, Brewer awakened a dormant - but politically explosive - issue of illegal immigration, sending shock waves across the political spectrum in an election year when both parties had hoped to sidestep the topic.

Twenty-two states are now in the process of drafting or seeking to pass legislation similar to Arizona’s law against illegal immigration. This is occurring despite the fact that the Obama administration has filed a lawsuit against the Arizona law and a federal judge has ruled against portions of that law – a ruling that is now being appealed.

Next month, two Rhode Island state lawmakers, a Democrat and a Republican, will travel to Arizona to speak with Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, local sheriffs, and other officials about how to better craft their own bipartisan immigration bill for Rhode Island, which already has been enforcing some federal immigration laws.

Meanwhile, 11 Republican state lawmakers from Colorado traveled to Arizona this week to meet with officials there on how to craft legislation for the Mile High state.

In addition, Alabama House Republicans announced this week that they would seek to “push an illegal immigration bill similar to the recently approved Arizona law.” This law would “create a new criminal trespass statute that allows local law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants for simply setting foot in Alabama,” said Alabama’s House Minority Leader Mike Hubbard.

In Florida, proposed legislation against illegal immigration has been retooled to address some concerns raised by a federal judge who blocked the proposed bill, though it would still allow Florida state police to enforce immigration law.

In all, there are 22 states considering copycat legislation from the Arizona law against illegal immigration, according to the Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee (ALIPAC), a group that advocates for stricter immigration enforcement.

Arizona’s law mirrors federal law. It requires local law enforcement officers during a lawful stop to determine the immigration status of an individual by asking the person to show identification that residents are already required to carry by law; and it authorizes law enforcement to securely transfer verified illegal aliens to federal custody.

These illegal immigrants, deported to Mexico on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, are shown near the Nogales Port of Entry in Sonora, Mexico.

The law prohibits racial profiling and gives state residents the right to sue local agencies for not complying with the state law.

In the lawsuit challenging the Arizona law, the Obama administration said the United States should not have a “patchwork” of 50 different immigration laws. In late July, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton ruled against most of the major elements of the Arizona law, halting their implementation. That ruling is now in the appeals process.

“We do not expand on federal law,” Florida state Rep. William Snyder, the sponsor of the bill in his state, told CNSNews.com. “We do not change penalties. The goal is not to create a new immigration framework at the state level.”

Snyder, the chairman of the Florida House Criminal Justice Committee, said his staff attorneys have taken the decision by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton into consideration in re-crafting their bill for the next state legislative session.

Snyder said the office of state Attorney General Bill McCollum has reviewed the legislation, as have committee attorneys, and they believe it will withstand a potential legal challenge from the Obama administration.

McCollum, a GOP candidate for governor, supports the legislation. However, Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican-turned-Independent candidate for U.S. Senate, opposes the proposal.

“We will continue to work with the language,” Snyder said.

In Rhode Island, a bill that was introduced late in the session last year, and thus never reached a vote, is expected to be reintroduced in the 2011 session. Its two lead co-sponsors hope to have a bipartisan bill that will withstand a legal challenge after they meet with Arizona officials.

“It exactly mirrors the Arizona law,” Rhode Island state Rep. Peter Palumbo, a Democrat, told CNSNews.com. “We will tweak the bill.”

Palumbo will be going to Arizona with Rhode Island state Rep. Joseph Trillo, a Republican.

Alfredo Salas, 28, shows his license Thursday shortly after being pulled over and let off with a warning for a cracked windshield by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office during a crime and immigration sweep.

Their legislation would essentially codify an existing executive order signed in 2008 by Gov. Donald Carcieri, a Republican, mandating immigration checks on all new state workers and ordering state police to assist federal immigration officials.

This is Carcieri’s final year in office, so Palumbo said it is important to put the force of law behind what has already been Rhode Island policy. State troopers report illegal immigrants they encounter for speeding and other offenses to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office.

Because of the executive order in 2008, corruption was discovered in the Department of Motor Vehicles, with drivers licenses being sold to illegal aliens, Palumbo said.

In New Jersey, state Rep. Allison Little McHose, a Republican, introduced a series of proposals that focused primarily on requiring employers to verify the legality of workers, and preventing state benefits from going to illegal aliens.

“New Jersey continues to be a sanctuary state for illegals because they know they can come to the state and receive many free benefits, like medical care,” McHose said in a statement. “The benefits may be free for those receiving them, but not the rest of the public because these costs are borne by the taxpayers.”

Other states with proposals that mirror the Arizona law are Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

“We are very pleased to announce 22 states are now following Arizona’s lead to pass versions of a law that has the support of 60 percent to 81 percent of Americans according to polls,” said ALIPAC President William Gheen in a statement. “State and federal candidates are rushing to display their support for Arizona’s law and immigration enforcement. We will not stop until all American states are protected from this invasion as mandated by the Constitution of the United States.”

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Expelled Roma promise to return to France

EU Times — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:33:34 +0000

French authorities have said the majority are returning on a voluntary basis

But as the 124 people landed in Timisoara, in their native Romania, many said they planned to head straight back to France.

“Of course I’m thinking about returning to France. Life is better than in Romania,” said 26-year-old Ionut Balasz as he arrived in Romania.

Aurel Cioaba echoed his sentiment: “I was there [in France for] four months with my wife, and if I can’t get by here in Romania I will go back.”

President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the crackdown on Roma in late July as part of a larger “war” on people who outstay their work permits in France. But the programme has sparked criticism, with human rights group saying it targets a single ethnic group, which is illegal under EU law. French authorities deny the claim, saying the programme is voluntary.

France can repatriate Roma, even though they come from EU-member states Romania and Bulgaria, if they are unable to prove they can support themselves.

French authorities have said the majority are returning on a voluntary basis, given small sums of money – €300 (£245) for each adult and €100 for each child – to help them re-establish themselves at home.

Since Mr Sarkozy’s announcement of the crackdown, police have dismantled dozens of illegally installed gipsy camps, checked the situations of each inhabitant and prepared to whisk them to their Romanian homeland.

Nearly 100 gipsies were sent to Romania on two flights on Thursday. Similar flights were expected later this month and into September.

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Tougher Than Arizona Immigration Bill Introduced in Utah

EU Times — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 09:42:33 +0000

Utah State Representative Stephen Sandstrom has introduced an immigration bill which in some ways may be tougher than Arizona’s embroiled S.B. 1070, yet omits the “onerous” and “punitive” aspects of the bill.

Rep. Sandstrom said he might be willing to bend on some minor points of the bill to improve its chance of passage, but will not compromise on allowing police to question individuals on their immigration status, as this is the “key to the bill.”

Rep. Sandstrom is expecting opposition, but says there are “dozens upon dozens” of legislators who will support the bill, and he believes it will ultimately pass.

Canadian Jails on alert as ship of Tamils migrants makes its way to B.C.

EU Times — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 07:59:25 +0000

The MV Sun Sea before it was reneamed. marinetraffic.com/ The Globe and Mail About 200 migrants expected to be detained as MV Sun Sea nears B.C. shores

Two provincial jails east of Vancouver are preparing for an influx this week of 200 new residents: Tamil migrants aboard a ship that is expected to arrive in British Columbia.

That disclosure from a spokesman for the District of Maple Ridge Tuesday is the clearest indication that the long-awaited arrival of the MV Sun Sea is imminent, three months after its departure from Thailand.

John Leeburn, a spokesman for Maple Ridge, said wardens at the Fraser Regional Corrections Centre and the Alouette Correctional Centre for Women have told district officials that the RCMP and Canadian Border Services would likely be boarding the ship offshore mid-week, and that the vessel would be taken to Victoria as its first port of call.

An expected 100 men would then be taken to the Fraser centre, which is the jail for men, while 80 women would be taken to Alouette.

It is not clear where any children will be taken, he said.

Mr. Leeburn said the briefing from corrections officials suggests the Tamil migrants will be at the jails for at least two to four months of processing.

“We’re told this out of a good neighbour policy because the prisons have been here for a while and there’s a good working relationship between us and them,” he said.

Passengers aboard the ship are fleeing after the end of a civil war in Sri Lanka. Some security experts worry that the ship may be carrying high-ranking members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a banned terrorist organization in Canada.

Canadian officials have not commented about the ship’s passengers or when the ship may be intercepted.

A spokesman for B.C. Corrections said the facilities would be able to handle migrants, recalling that 76 Tamils from another ship, the Ocean Lady, were housed last year in Maple Ridge. Many are now living in Toronto, pending refugee hearings.

“The custody of migrants is something we have dealt with a number of times in the past decade. I think it’s something we have shown we’re able to do, and can respond quickly and effectively,” Jess Gunnarson said in an interview.

“[We] are certainly committed to our federal partners in terms of providing that service.”

Mr. Gunnarson said privacy and security directives limit his ability to comment further.

“A number of the operational decisions that need to be made with the arrival of such a ship or once such a ship has arrived really can’t be made until that time because they are based on the number of individuals, the demographics of those individuals and their backgrounds.”

Navy ships or an RCMP vessel will likely make first contact with the Sun Sea upon arrival in Canadian waters, after which the vessel will likely be boarded and then escorted to dock.

The vessel is expected to taken to the Ogden Point terminal in Victoria, which is where officials took the last ship.

Richard Kurland, immigration policy analyst and lawyer, said tuberculosis and dehydration could be major health issues considering the vessel has been at sea since May.

Bob Barlow, general manager of Western Stevedoring, which operates Ogden Point, said Tuesday that the company has not been contacted by government officials about the arrival of the ship.

Gray Line, the bus company used last October to help transport migrants, said no request has been made to stand ready in the event the vessel arrives.

“We were only given one hour notice last year for two buses,” said a dispatcher, who asked not to be named.

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US Senate & House passes $600M border security bill, Obama plans to sign as soon as possible

EU Times — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:54:25 +0000

The Senate gave its final approval to a $600 million border security bill Thursday.

The Senate briefly suspended its month-long summer recess to give final approval to a $600 million border security bill Thursday, fulfilling President Barack Obama’s request for reinforcements on the Southwest border — and allowing both parties to claim they’ve made progress in addressing border security, ahead of the midterm elections.

“Today’s action by Congress answers my call to bolster the essential work of federal law enforcement officials and improve their ability to partner with state, local and tribal law enforcement” to stop the flow of undocumented immigrants, Obama said in a statement Thursday. The bill, he said, also “will make an important difference as my administration continues to work with Congress toward bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform to secure our borders and restore responsibility and accountability to our broken immigration system.”

White House spokesman Nick Shapiro said Obama will sign the bill Friday.

Senate Democrats and labor unions also released statements claiming the measure nullifies Republican arguments that they can’t consider a comprehensive immigration reform bill until Congress addresses security along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York was hopeful that the bill would bring Republicans back to the bargaining table. But one key GOP Senator, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, threw cold water on those hopes, calling the bill “more like an effort to receive positive press” for Democrats rather than a genuine attempt to stop illegal immigration.

“Make no mistake: while this small measure can have some value, if it is not followed by strong, sustained action; it is yet another gesture without consequence,” Sessions, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said in a statement issued Thursday.

“The ‘Masters of the Universe’ in Washington are always proposing new plans to deal with the massive illegality at the border,” said Sessions. Last week, Sessions and Arizona Sen. John McCain, another key Republican, said the $600 million bill was only the first step in toughening the border.

“But the one thing they are not willing to do is what has been proven to work: a strong physical presence at the border and diligent enforcement of existing law,” Sessions said. “We know how to solve the problem; what we don’t know is why President Obama remains unwilling to do so.”

Schumer, the Democrats’ point person on immigration reform, maintains that the bill is more than a gesture, arguing it should “break the deadlock that has existed in Congress and will clear the path for us to finally resume bipartisan negotiations in good faith. With this bill’s passage today, we have clearly shown we are serious about securing our nation’s borders.”
Contiue Reading

In meetings with Republicans, “I repeatedly heard them say that once we showed we were serious about passing border security legislation, they would be able to begin working with us to fix other aspects of our broken immigration system,” Schumer said. The bill would box in Republicans politically, he added, compelling them to keep their word.

“I believe tactically it will help us move forward because it pulls away their No. 1 excuse, which is we can’t do comprehensive until there is border change,” Schumer said. “Certainly we were getting nowhere the old way.”

The bill includes money for 1,500 new border personnel, a pair of unmanned drones and military-style bases along the border. It would be paid for mostly by hiking fees on foreign companies that use U.S. visa programs to import lower-cost labor from countries like India. Firms with more than 50 employees and more than 50 percent of their employees on H-1B work visas would be affected.

Unlike the House session Tuesday to approve a $26 billion state aid bill, only two senators were needed during Thursday’s session because Democrats and Republicans agreed to pass the bill by unanimous consent. Schumer returned from New York to usher the bill, while Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) presided over the chamber.

The Senate also agreed to a resolution honoring former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who died Monday in a plane crash.

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US Coast Guard intercepted 323 illegal migrants from Haiti

EU Times — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 02:13:57 +0000

* Migration bids from Haiti seem to be picking up again

* They had dropped off after devastating Jan. 12 quake

The U.S. Coast Guard repatriated 323 Haitian migrants on Monday after intercepting them aboard two overloaded sailboats in Bahamian waters, northwest of Haiti’s northern coast, a Coast Guard officer said.

The operations since Friday were the largest interceptions at sea of would-be migrants from the poor Caribbean state since it was devastated by an earthquake on Jan. 12 that wrecked the capital Port-au-Prince and killed up to 300,000 people.

Attempts by Haitians to reach the United States illegally in small unseaworthy boats had appeared to drop off following the earthquake, both because of the impact of the disaster and because of the presence of U.S. military warships supporting a huge international relief effort during several months.

But the latest interceptions indicated U.S.-bound migration attempts by Haitians might be picking up momentum again.

“The Coast Guard continues to station cutters and aircraft off the coast of Haiti to deter illegal migration and to interdict and rescue those who attempt to depart on these unsafe vessels and dangerous voyages,” Captain Steven Banks, chief of enforcement of the Seventh Coast Guard District, said in a statement.

The Coast Guard Cutter Legare stopped an overloaded 40-foot (12 meter) sail freighter carrying 164 Haitian migrants about eight miles (13 km) south of Great Inagua, Bahamas on Friday.

Two days later, the same cutter intercepted another sail freighter carrying 159 Haitians about 33 miles (53 km) west of Great Inagua.

More than six months after Haiti’s crippling earthquake, described by some experts as one of the most destructive natural disasters in modern history, the United Nations says the massive relief operation it is heading has made progress.

But at least 1.5 million quake victims are still living in vulnerable tent and tarpaulin camps across Port-au-Prince, and aid workers fear that unless more secure shelter and housing is provided there is a risk of another humanitarian disaster as the hurricane season enters its peak period in August.

Mexican drug cartel offers $1M bounty for Arpaio

EU Times — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 07:14:03 +0000

A chilling audio tape with text, circulating by e-mail, has been reported that puts a million dollar price on conservative hero, Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s head. Is it a coincidence that this was reported on the same day that Arizona’s immigration law, SB 1070, became effective?

Though the SB 1070 law that has gone into effect is a gutted version of the real bill, yesterday was also the day that Governor Brewer filed an expedited appeal, vowing to fight all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary. Yesterday was also the day that busloads of imported protesters from California chained themselves outside Sheriff Arpaio’s jail.

Still, there are those who think the real solution isn’t immigration reform or securing the border. Some feel certain the fact that Arizona is trying to block the drug highway from Mexico, thus cutting off the drug cartel’s route to supply drugs to the United States is the primary reason that the drug cartel is allegedly out to eliminate Sheriff Joe. Therefore, they think the solution is to legalize drugs.

In the message, $1M reward is placed on Arpaio’s head, and for mafia cartel recruiting purposes, another $1K to join the cartel.

The information about the tape was provided by a man, frightened enought to request anonymity, who was disgusted when his wife showed him the tape and followed up by reporting it to the sheriff’s office. Death threats aren’t uncommon for law enforcement officers who battle the lawlessness of border states,woefully overwhelmed and understaffed, and Sheriff Joe has had more than a few. This threat is considered real and credible, especially because of its timing.

It is believed this message originated in Mexico. The tape provides an international phone number and investigators are trying to trace the text message.

Ms. Allen from the Sheriff’s office is “sure he’s concerned… for his family more than anything else.”

DALLAS — At last, “Undocumented”, a film about illegal immigration “levels the ground” for all involved. Premiered at the Texas Film Fest, May 17th at the Angelika Film Fest in Dallas. See this trailer of the powerful documentary filmed by Dallas director and fim maker, Justin Malone.

Amid frightening, but unconfirmed reports that multiple Texas border ranches, located south of Laredo, had possibly been seized by a dangerous Mexican…

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio stands in front of his county jail the day Arizona's immigration enforcement law SB 1080 went into effect on July 29, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. Although U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton suspended several controversial provisions of the law the previous day, Arpaio said he did not need the law in order to detain undocumented immigrants during his planned crime sweep in Phoenix.

Sarkozy orders all Gypsies expelled from France

EU Times — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:52:50 +0000

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday ordered authorities to expel Gypsy illegal immigrants and dismantle their camps, amid accusations that his government is acting racist in its treatment of the group known as Roma.

Sarkozy called a government meeting Wednesday after Gypsies clashed with police this month following the shooting death of a youth fleeing officers in the Loire Valley.

Sarkozy said those responsible for the clashes would be “severely punished” and ordered the government to expel all illegal Roma immigrants, almost all of whom have come from eastern Europe.

He pushed for a change in France’s immigration law to make such expulsion easier “for reasons of public order.” He said illegal Gypsy camps “will be systematically evacuated,” calling them sources of trafficking, exploitation of children and prostitution.

The language has chilling undertones in a country where authorities rounded up Gypsies and sent them to concentration camps during the Nazi occupation in World War II. Former President Jacques Chirac, the first French leader to acknowledge the state’s role in the Holocaust, condemned “the Nazi madness that wanted to eliminate the Gypsies.”

Around Europe, some 250,000 to 1.5 million Roma were killed during World War II. Accurate figures are difficult to find, because so many Roma were rounded up away from public view, executed and dumped into mass graves.

French Roma representatives were not invited to Wednesday’s presidential meeting, and said they are the only ethnic group that French authorities can openly target.

Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux insisted that Wednesday’s measures “are not meant to stigmatize any community, regardless of who they are, but at to punish illegal behavior.”

Romania and Bulgaria are members of the European Union, and their citizens can enter France without a visa, but they must get work permits to work here or residency permits to settle long term.

Community leaders contend the very principle of the meeting — which singled out an ethnic group in a country that is officially blind to ethnic origins — is racist and warn of grave consequences if their side isn’t heard. France’s government does not count how many of its citizens are of a certain ethnicity; everyone is simply considered French.

“Today … I am afraid we’re preparing to open a blighted page in the history of France, which could sadly lead to acts of reprisal in the days ahead,” said lawyer Henri Braun said at a Wednesday news conference by French Roma leaders. “There is a huge problem of racism in France towards this population, there is enormous discrimination.”

France’s relationship with what it calls Gypsies is complex and complicated by divisions among the disparate populations.

One, formally given the administrative label of “traveling folk,” includes several hundred thousand French citizens who have lived in France for centuries, and were traditionally nomadic but have become increasingly sedentary in recent years.

The other main Gypsy population is made up of recent immigrants who come mostly from Eastern European countries like Romania and Bulgaria, usually illegally, and are often seen begging on the streets of French cities.

Those in the more established communities say they are being unfairly lumped together with illegal new immigrants. Sarkozy’s orders Wednesday targeted Roma, though the violence in Saint-Aignan earlier this month was in a community of traveling folk established in the region for years.

Alice Januel, whose organization represents Catholics among French Gypsies, warned that “If Mr. Sarkozy thinks that by clamping down he is going to calm the youth, I don’t think that he will succeed. We have a youth that is rebellious.”

Sarkozy also proposed that France bring in about 20 Romanian and Bulgarian police to work in the Paris region and send French police to Romania and Bulgaria, to help fight trafficking and other crime by Roma.

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Federal Judge Blocks Portions of Arizona Illegal Immigration Law

EU Times — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:39:30 +0000

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the most controversial parts of Arizona's immigration law from taking effect, delivering a last-minute victory to President Obama and other opponents of the crackdown and a setback for Gov. Jan Brewer other supporters.

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked some of the toughest provisions in the Arizona illegal immigration law, putting on hold the state’s attempt to have local police enforce federal immigration policy.

Though the rest of the law is still set to go into effect Thursday, the partial injunction on SB 1070 means Arizona, for the time being, will not be able to require police officers to determine the immigration status of anyone they stop or arrest.

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton also struck down the section of law that makes it a crime not to carry immigration registration papers and the provision that makes it a crime for an illegal immigrant to seek or perform work.

Click here to read the ruling.

In all, Bolton struck down four sections of the law, the ones that opponents called the most controversial. Bolton said she was putting those sections on hold until the courts resolve the issues.

The ruling said the Obama administration, which sought the injunction, is likely to “succeed on the merits” in showing the above provisions are preempted by federal law.

“The court by no means disregards Arizona’s interests in controlling illegal immigration and addressing the concurrent problems with crime including the trafficking of humans, drugs, guns, and money,” the ruling said. “Even though Arizona’s interests may be consistent with those of the federal government, it is not in the public interest for Arizona to enforce preempted laws.”

A number of provisions will still go into effect as the case is litigated. Arizona will be able to block state officials from so-called “sanctuary city” policies limiting enforcement of federal law; require that state officials work with federal officials on illegal immigration; allow civil suits over sanctuary cities; and make it a crime to pick up day laborers.

The ruling came just as police were making last-minute preparations to begin enforcement of the law and protesters were planning large demonstrations to speak out against the measure. At least one group planned to block access to federal offices, daring officers to ask them about their immigration status.

Justice Department spokeswoman Hannah August said the court “ruled correctly” with its decision Wednesday.

“While we understand the frustration of Arizonans with the broken immigration system, a patchwork of state and local policies would seriously disrupt federal immigration enforcement and would ultimately be counterproductive,” August said.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., one of the most vocal advocates on immigration issues on Capitol Hill, applauded the decision.

“Arresting people based on their appearance and holding them until you can investigate their immigration status is patently un-American and unconstitutional,” he said.

But supporters of the policy slammed the court’s decision. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., called the ruling “misguided.”

“The federal government has a right and a responsibility to enforce existing laws, but when they fail to meet that responsibility, we should not stand in the way of the states that take action to respond to the very real threat of border violence, drug cartels and human smuggling,” he said in a written statement. “There’s nowhere in the Constitution that says a state is limited to what it absolutely won’t do and can be stopped for what it might do and to exercise a judgment against a state that has passed a law that is consistent with existing federal law is beyond absurd.”

The volume of the protests will likely be turned down a few notches because of the ruling by Bolton, a Clinton appointee who suddenly became a crucial figure in the immigration debate when she was assigned the seven lawsuits filed against the Arizona law.

Lawyers for the state contend the law was a constitutionally sound attempt by Arizona — the busiest illegal gateway into the country — to assist federal immigration agents and lessen border woes such as the heavy costs for educating, jailing and providing health care for illegal immigrants.

Opponents argued the law will lead to racial profiling, conflict with federal immigration law and distract local police from fighting more serious crimes. The U.S. Justice Department, civil rights groups and a Phoenix police officer had asked the judge for an injunction to prevent the law from being enforced.

Localities inside Arizona were already preparing to interpret the law in different ways. The Tucson Unified School District’s Governing Board approved by a 5-0 vote a policy Tuesday that maintains the district’s stance of not enforcing immigration laws in the district’s schools.

The hardest-line approach was expected in the Phoenix area, where Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio plans his 17th crime and immigration sweep. He planned to hold the sweep regardless of the ruling.

Arpaio, known for his tough stance against illegal immigration, plans to send out about 200 deputies and volunteers who will be looking for traffic violators, people wanted on criminal warrants and others. He has used that tactic before to arrest dozens of people, many of them illegal immigrants.

“We don’t wait. We just do it,” he said. “If there’s a new law out, we’re going to enforce it.”

Elsewhere in the state, police officials were busy wrapping up training sessions this week. Many of the state’s 15,000 police officers have been watching a DVD released this month that signs that might indicate a person is an illegal immigrant are speaking poor English, looking nervous or traveling in an overcrowded vehicle. It warned that race and ethnicity do not.

Some agencies added extra materials, including a test, a role-playing exercise or a question-and-answer session with prosecutors.

Click here to read the Arizona immigration law.

Source

Half of Americans Would Deport All Illegal Residents

EU Times — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:41:47 +0000

More people in the United States are expressing support for deporting all illegal immigrants currently working in the country, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 50 per cent of respondents share this opinion, up eight points since May.

On the contrary, 27 per cent of respondents would allow illegal workers to remain in the U.S. and eventually apply for citizenship, and 16 per cent would allow them to work on a temporary basis but not offer them a chance to become citizens.

In March 2006, the Pew Hispanic Center calculated the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. at somewhere between 11.5 million to 12 million.

On Apr. 19, the Arizona State Senate voted 17-11 to pass an immigration bill, also known as the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhood Act. The Arizona House of Representatives had previously endorsed the legislation in a 35-21 vote. The new bill includes provisions such as making it a crime to transport someone who is an illegal immigrant; requiring state and local police to determine the status of a person if there is “reasonable suspicion” that they are illegal immigrants; arresting people who are unable to provide documentation to prove they are in the U.S. legally; and making it a crime to hire day labourers off the street.

U.S. President Barack Obama called the Arizona immigration law “misguided” and called for “a common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform grounded in the principles of responsibility and accountability.” The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit, claiming that only federal authorities should be in a position to enforce immigration laws.

On Jul. 7, Republican Arizona governor Jan Brewer defended the immigration law in the face of the lawsuit, saying, “Today’s [lawsuit] is nothing more than a massive waste of taxpayer funds; these funds could be better used against the violent Mexican cartels than the people of Arizona.”

Polling Data

Which of these statements comes closer to your own point of view on the status of illegal immigrants who are currently working in the United States?

	Jul. 2010	May 2010	Apr. 2010
They should be allowed to stay in the U.S., and eventually apply for citizenship	27%	25%	28%
They should be allowed to work in the U.S. on a temporary basis, but they should not become citizens	16%	21%	16%
They should be required to leave their jobs and be deported	50%	42%	45%
Not sure	8%	11%	11%

John McCain Contributes To SB 1070 Defense Fund

EU Times — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:51:45 +0000

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., contributed $5,000 to the Legacy Foundation, which is raising money for a legal defense fund to fight SB 1070 lawsuits.

The funds will provide legal defense to county sheriffs Paul Babeu of Pinal County and Larry Dever of Cochise County from lawsuits brought on by the American Civil Liberties Union and U.S. Department of Justice.

McCain said he would like to see others throughout the country follow his lead and support the two sheriffs.

Source

At least 50 cars torched by Immigrant Rioters in southeast France

EU Times — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:52:53 +0000

Photo taken on July 17, 2010 shows disturbance in Grenoble city, southeast France.

Between 50 to 60 cars were burned out in an overnight disturbance in Grenoble city, southeast France, from Friday to Saturday after police shot dead an armed malefactor who was on his fly from a robbery.

The blaze took place at night at a populous district in Grenoble, the area where policemen killed the young fugitive robber in a shootout during a chase earlier Friday.

Local police have arrested two youngsters, including a juvenile, but it remains unclear whether they were suspects in the car torching case or involved in the deadly robbery, according to French media.

The killed young man, 27, had reportedly been convicted for armed robbery for three times before the incident.

French Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux is on his way to Grenoble to deal with the disturbance, local media reported.

Utah Anti-Immigrant Group IDs 1,300 Supposed Illegals

EU Times — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:22:21 +0000

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said on Twitter that he was instructing authorities to investigate if the list of supposed illegals had been leaked illegally by a state employee.

Officials in Utah fear that a group of anti-immigration activists may have taken matters into their own hands.

An anonymous group of “concerned citizens” sent a letter this week to newspapers in Utah containing more than 1,300 names of people it says are in the country illegally. It also enclosed a similar letter it had sent to federal and state officials in April.

“We are enclosing a list of individuals who we strongly believe are in this country illegally and should be immediately deported,” the April 4 letter reads.

Though the group says it is not violent, the letter includes sensitive information like Social Security numbers, phone numbers and even the due dates of pregnant women on the list, according to reports from multiple Utah news agencies who received the document. KSL Newsradio in Utah reports that nearly every name on the list is of Spanish origin.

Republican Gov. Gary Herbert wants to know how the information was obtained, and he announced on Twitter that he’d directed Utah authorities to see if the list had been leaked illegally by a state employee.

For its part, the group claims the list is “the result of hard work by a large force of tax-paying citizens over the course of many months who live throughout the state of Utah.”

The list has not yet been verified, but at least one person on the list has said publicly that he is an illegal immigrant.

“We have a reason why we came here to live, to at least have something better,” Israel Perez told KSL on Tuesday. “But people trying to kick us out, we be like dogs running around and putting us in a cage and sending us back somewhere we don’t want.” Perez said his parents brought him to the United States when he was 10 years old.

In the wake of Arizona’s tough new immigration law, the list has sparked fear among immigrants in Utah and raised questions about whether the already heated debate over immigration has taken a vigilante turn.

“My phone has been ringing nonstop since this morning with people finding out they’re on the list,” Tony Yapias, former director of the Utah Office of Hispanic Affairs, told The Associated Press. “They’re feeling terrorized. They’re very scared.”

The letter’s language — which seemed to suggest that members of the group had spent time tracking suspected illegal immigrants in their day-to-day lives — did not help.

“Our group observes these individuals in our neighborhoods, driving on our streets, working in our stores, attending our schools and entering our public welfare buildings,” the group wrote.

A promise that the letter’s authors would be “listening and watching” to make sure their fellow citizens turn in illegal immigrants didn’t sit well with some Utah lawmakers, either.

Democratic state Rep. Neil Hansen called the list makers cowards. “Here’s somebody accusing people of being illegals and yet they’re not willing to put their name on this,” he told ABC 4 Utah. “It almost seems [like] cowardice.”

Utah Minutemen Project has denied any involvement in the list, but co-chairman Eli Cawley said he supports the group.

“It’s probably against some privacy laws,” Cawley told KSL. “But I think in the interest of preserving our civilization, preserving our society and protecting the people of the state of Utah, I think that’s a greater interest than protecting the privacy of some individuals.”

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