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"Twenty years after the publication of
Crimes of Arrival
and the
inhumane and degrading treatment meted out to migrants and refugees is
scrupulously airbrushed from Europe's political landscape. According to the
European Commission's website, the EU has established a border free zone in
which we can travel "freely and safely", a "balanced migration
policy", a "Common European Asylum System" and a "humane
and effective return policy". It is also dealing "firmly and
effectively with irregular immigration", while doing its utmost to save
lives at sea.
"So detached has the official rhetoric about
migrants' rights and saving lives become from the realities of the detention
centres, the razor wire, the intensive surveillance, the military patrols, the
forced expulsions and the 20,000 documented deaths, that people bearing the
brunt of the economic crisis and austerity measures may be forgiven for
thinking that over-generous migration policies are indeed the source of all
their woe - a message that is rammed home by opportunist politicians and
xenophobic media at every opportunity.
"This new edition of the Statewatch Journal
examines the latest European policy and practice vis-a-vis border control,
immigration and asylum."
