Hundreds of Africans Break Through Razor-Wire Into Spain

[buzzsaw_23]

Hundreds of Africans break through razor-wire into Spain

By Daniel Woolls, AP Writer, in Melilla, Spain

Published: 04 October 2005

More than 300 Africans have broken through a razor-wire fence separating Morocco from the Spanish enclave of Melilla in the biggest wave so far of immigrants seeking a gateway to Europe.

An estimated 650 people tried to cross, and about 350 succeeded, in the pre-dawn surge into Melilla yesterday, overwhelming police on both sides of the border. "There were just too many of us," said Fofama Issa, a 28-year-old man from Mali, sitting in an overflowing holding facility afterwards. About 135 immigrants and seven police officers were injured. Some of the Africans threw rocks at police or hit officers with them, Spain's interior ministry said.

The surge surprised a Spanish security contingent boosted by soldiers after similar rushes last week, including one that left five Africans dead in another Spanish enclave, Ceuta, and embarrassed a government that had been relying on new, higher barriers to keep undocumented Africans out.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/article316892.ece

[Zapatero]

1. I Was In

Spain this week, I saw the whole thing. Poor people take thier lives in their hands to get out of poverty.


:dem:

[1932]

10. I saw an interview with a man who was on the other side of the fence.

He said they can keep building the walls higher, but there's so much misery and poverty on one side and opportunity on the other that people will keep risking their lives.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi Zapatero!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Bacchus39]

2. immigration in Europe

yeah, I was in Spain a couple years ago. I think they are struggling with immigration. Turks in Germany. Africans in France and Spain. It will be interesting to see how they respond.

[Zapatero]

3. They Have

Legalized many of them,by granting amnesty, but a country like Spain cannot support much more subsaharan, african and moroccan immigration.

[Bacchus39]

4. frankly, I loved Spain but found them somewhat arrogant

but then again so are Americans. I guess I really am skeptical and believe there will be some sort of backlash.

speaking of Zapatero, what do the Spaniards think of him so far?

[Orrin_73]

14. There are no problems with Turks in Germany

The number of Turks in Germany is not increasing for years. The only problem are the neo nazis and skinheads in Germany who are attacking any foreigner be it Turk, Rusian or Italian.

[Julius Civitatus]

5. Part of the problem is the inadequate immigration policies in Spain

I do believe one of the main reasons for these massive waves of illegal immigration into Spain are the highly inadequate immigration policies in Spain. Neither conservatives nor liberals have dealt properly with this issue, and now Zapatero recently granted a wide amnesty to illegal immigrants over there. Aznar did the same.

The problem, as I see it, is that the lack of proper regulations grants immediate asylum or even citizenship to many illegals. In other cases, illegals wait around until the Spanish government grants another wide amnesty. Deportations are almost impossible.

So basically Spain is telling those sub-Saharan Africans massing at the border that they can not enter the country illegally.... but IF they manage to enter the country illegally (wink wink, nudge nudge) they'll be granted immediate residence in Spain. See, this policy is basically inviting people to jump over those walls.

Imagine what would happen if the US said that no illegal immigrants could be deported, and what's more, granted residence permits no matter what their status. It would create massive chaos overnight.

That's what happening at the borders of Spain (and at the airports as well).

As yo u can imagine, the rest of the borderless European Union countries are NOT happy about this lax attitude of Spain. This is a problem they need to solve.

[gorbal]

6. Sounds like they should have a gameshow at the border

"So you'd like to live in Spain?" That's basically what is happening anyway-a game of skill and chance where whoever wins gets a permanent vacation in Europe. They might as well throw in a well oiled host with a microphone and perhaps the whole thing will pay for itself.

[Zapatero]

7. Where do you Get This Nonsense.

Spanish government has tried everything to stop illegal immigration. They only thing they did was legalize the illegal aliens already living and working in Spain. They will not legalize any new illegal immigrants. The government wants to return the illegal aliens to their countries but they cannot, Non of the illegals carry any documents or passports and they refuse to say which African country they are from. By law they cannot just dump people in any country. It is a no win situation for both sides.

Moroccans come over in row boats in the middle of the night, Very hard to conrol the straights. Remember all these people can apply for legal immigration status in their own countries.

[Julius Civitatus]

9. Nonsense? Excuse me?

I certainly read the news, both in English and Spanish. And yes, Zapatero did offer a very wide amnesty to all illegals living in Spain... and said this won't ever happen again. Right! Aznar did the same thing before. Given how poorly the local laws are handling the problem, it will only be a matter of time until they offer another amnesty.

You say that the "Spanish government has tried everything to stop illegal immigration.' Sorry but I don't believe so, and it doesn't look like they are doing much to deter it, since they use a very contradicting policy that invites people to "give it a shot." According to recent statistics (sorry I don't have a link handy), about 24% of all immigration to the EU goes to Spain; that is roughly 1 out of every 4 immigrants into Europe. I wonder why!

It is widely known that Spanish immigration laws are the most lax in the EU, and it's no coincidence these problems are happening at their southern borders. I believe Spaniards may be confusing good intentions with a laissez faire attitude.

The problem of immigration in Spain is very troubling and very complicated, and if it continues that way it may threaten the continuity of the Schengen Treaty in the EU. Many of these illegal immigrants that enter the EU through Spain move on to other EU countries, thus becoming an immigration problem for the entire EU. Sometimes serious problems require more serious measures, and Spain needs to get really serious about immigration, because what's going on there looks like a mess.

Just my opinion.

[Zapatero]

13. You forgot to Mention

All the illegal aliens from South America that enter Spain from other European Nation. Is the EU doing anything to stop the influx of illegal Aliens?

[1932]

11. One day there will be no borders at all.

And I also believe that one day there will be much less polarization of wealth, which will make the borders irrelevent. A Spanish person might acutally want to go work in Equatorial Guinea just as much as someone from Equatorial Guinea would want to work in Barcelona, and everyone will be happy that they have the opportunity to do that.

[lovuian]

8. Welcome to what is happening in America!!!

the Mexican Border fence is got holes in it!!!