ImmigrationImmigration

Illegal Immigration Illegal Immigration from Africa to Europefrom Africa to Europe

By,

Corine, Chantelle & Janet

What is illegal immigration?

Illegal immigration is when people enter a Illegal immigration is when people enter a new country illegally, with no documents. new country illegally, with no documents.

These people are called illegal immigrants.These people are called illegal immigrants.

Immigrants in Europe

The majority of African migrants The majority of African migrants living overseas are in Europe (about living overseas are in Europe (about 4.6m compared with 890,000 in the 4.6m compared with 890,000 in the

US). But the Migration Policy US). But the Migration Policy Institute believes there are between Institute believes there are between

7 and 8 million irregular African 7 and 8 million irregular African immigrants living in the EU - the immigrants living in the EU - the

actual number changing depending actual number changing depending on regularization schemes in the on regularization schemes in the

member states.member states.

The latest report on migration says African migration to developed countries is marginal in relation to overall flows.

Why do African illegal immigrants migrate?

In Africa there are various problems In Africa there are various problems concerning natural disasters such as drought concerning natural disasters such as drought

and famine and human disasters such as and famine and human disasters such as wars and discrimination.wars and discrimination.

However, illegal immigrants migrate because However, illegal immigrants migrate because they are in search of a better life.they are in search of a better life.

Discrimination Drought

War

Illegal immigration may be prompted by the Illegal immigration may be prompted by the desire to escape desire to escape from from civil civil war war in thin theireir

country of origincountry of origin..

Family reunion

Some illegal immigrants seek to live with Some illegal immigrants seek to live with loved ones, such as loved ones, such as their their family members.family members.

Poverty

One cause of illegal immigration can be One cause of illegal immigration can be poverty. poverty. Illegal immigrants enter Illegal immigrants enter aa country in country in search of wages higher than those achievesearch of wages higher than those achievedd

in their home countries.in their home countries.

Population growth

Population growthPopulation growth exceeds the exceeds the carrying carrying capacity capacity of an area or environment results in of an area or environment results in overpopulation.overpopulation. GrowthGrowth in human population in human population can cause problems such as can cause problems such as pollutionpollution, , water water

crisis and poverty.crisis and poverty.

What are the methods?

There are three methods, of how illegal There are three methods, of how illegal immigrants can enter a country.immigrants can enter a country.

•Border crossingBorder crossing

•Overstaying a visa Overstaying a visa

•Fraudulent marriageFraudulent marriage

•Border crossing

Immigrants from nations that do not have Immigrants from nations that do not have automatic visa agreements, or who would automatic visa agreements, or who would not otherwise qualify for a visa, often cross not otherwise qualify for a visa, often cross the borders illegallythe borders illegally. This is a very . This is a very danegerous method.danegerous method.

border control atborder control at seasea

•Overstaying a visa

Some illegal immigrants enter a country Some illegal immigrants enter a country legally and then overstay or violate their legally and then overstay or violate their visa.visa.

•Fraudulent marriage

A third way to enter a country is to engage in A third way to enter a country is to engage in a sham marriage, registering as married with a sham marriage, registering as married with the government for the purpose of obtaining the government for the purpose of obtaining papers for one half of the partnership in papers for one half of the partnership in exchange for monetary or other exchange for monetary or other considerations.considerations.

Routes to Europe

The main aim The main aim of illegal of illegal

migrants is to migrants is to reach Europe.reach Europe.

How do Africanillegal immigrants travel?

African illegal immigrants cannot afford to African illegal immigrants cannot afford to travel by plane so they have to rent a small travel by plane so they have to rent a small boat. To enter another country by boat, they boat. To enter another country by boat, they endure many problems such as storms and endure many problems such as storms and sea sickness. So you can clearly imagine sea sickness. So you can clearly imagine

how desperate they can be.how desperate they can be. Sea Storms

Sea Sickness

Who gets to travel on the boat?

Everyone gets to travel whether a young baby of 2 Everyone gets to travel whether a young baby of 2 months or an elderly man of 86. They are just in months or an elderly man of 86. They are just in

search of a better life and because they can`t search of a better life and because they can`t afford to buy a passport or a visa, they come in a afford to buy a passport or a visa, they come in a

country illegally. These people are sometimes country illegally. These people are sometimes injured and need great care to survive the harsh injured and need great care to survive the harsh

conditions of nature.conditions of nature.

Dangers

Illegal immigrants expose themselves to Illegal immigrants expose themselves to dangers while engaged in dangers while engaged in illegal entryillegal entry to to

another country. Aside from the possibility another country. Aside from the possibility that they may be intercepted and deported, that they may be intercepted and deported,

some considerably more dangerous some considerably more dangerous outcomes have been known to result from outcomes have been known to result from

their activity. their activity.

Slavery

Illegal immigrants can beIllegal immigrants can be kidnapped or kidnapped or tricked into slavery to work as laborers, for tricked into slavery to work as laborers, for

example in factories. Those trafficked in this example in factories. Those trafficked in this manner often face additional barriers to manner often face additional barriers to

escaping slavery, since their status as illegal escaping slavery, since their status as illegal immigrants makes it difficult for them to gain immigrants makes it difficult for them to gain

access to help or services.access to help or services.

Death

• Each year there are several thousands of illegal immigrants that die.

Where do they go when they arrive at their destination?

When they arrive at When they arrive at their destination, they their destination, they

go to the detention go to the detention centre. In Malta, the centre. In Malta, the detention centre is in detention centre is in

Hal Safi. In the Hal Safi. In the detention centre, illegal detention centre, illegal

immigrants and also immigrants and also refugees, live there until refugees, live there until

the authorities give the authorities give them the refugee status.them the refugee status.

What is the refugee status?

The refugee status is when there is evidence that The refugee status is when there is evidence that the immigrants have entered the country because of the immigrants have entered the country because of a problem in their country such as drought, famine, a problem in their country such as drought, famine,

discrimination and wars. Those who receive the discrimination and wars. Those who receive the refugee status, can buy a normal house, have a job, refugee status, can buy a normal house, have a job,

learn education and have free medical services.learn education and have free medical services. However these refugees enter a country with However these refugees enter a country with documents. Illegal immigrants do not receive the documents. Illegal immigrants do not receive the

refugee status but they might receive the humanity refugee status but they might receive the humanity status which is quite similar but they live in groups of status which is quite similar but they live in groups of

tents and do not receive that many rights. tents and do not receive that many rights.

What do these illegal immigrants do during their day in the

detention centre?Well mostly they try to Well mostly they try to escape the detention escape the detention centre. However they centre. However they cannot because they cannot because they

are heavily guarded by are heavily guarded by soldiers from the armed soldiers from the armed

forces of Malta. They forces of Malta. They eat brown bread, drink eat brown bread, drink milk and they also eat milk and they also eat other goods such as other goods such as

pastry.pastry.

This is a little video showing a group of illegal immigrants entering Malta.

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