Illegal immigration: the effect of the cavernous slit between rich and poor countries

Lasting solution is to tackle poverty as well as concerted efforts between the countries of origin of immigrants, the transit countries, and the countries of destination.The phenomenon of illegal immigration is growing at an alarming rate now more than ever before. It involved most especially the risky illegal immigration of Africans to Europe.

It is beyond reasonable doubt that the major causes of illegal immigration is the cavernous slit between the rich and poor countries. However it is amazing that rather than finding lasting solutions to the crises in tackling poverty as well as pooled efforts between the countries of origin of immigrants, the transit countries, and the countries of destination some Western governments are using repressive measures against immigrants and control of immigration routes as solutions to the rising phenomenon.

Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, shared this same view when he said in 2004 that “Combating illegal immigration should be part of a much broader strategy. Countries should real channels for legal immigration, and seek to harness its benefits, while safeguarding the basic human rights of migration.” It is an open secret that poverty, war, political unrest and persecution of opponents have been pushing Africans to Western shores in horde. Thus each year thousands of Africans, especially the youth make a journey that they hope will ultimately lead them to Europe that is generally believed here to be an Eldora do. In course of their adventure they use unsafe boats, trucks, trains, and sometimes even trek through the desert, to seek for greener pastures.

A 2000 migration report states that an estimated 30 million people are smuggled across international frontiers every year, while between 400,000 and 500,000 illegal migrants annually enter the European Union. The report further made it clear that some three million people are believed to reside in Europe surreptitiously.

Furthermore the International Officer for Migration (IOM), in its 2007 report, say 6.300 Africans made it into Spain clandestinely, down from 12,000 in 2006. While the total number of intercepted migrants has gone down, Vijaya Souri, IOM deputy director for Mauritania, says many more women are joining their male companions in the adventure. In 2006, figures show that some1000 Africans arrived in Spanish Canary Island in a day. Many of them die from extreme harsh climate, rough water, perilous boat conditions, accidents, inter alia, before even reaching Europe.

In addition the IOM explain in their report that fourteen dead migrants, were recently found floating near a submerged boat off the coast of the Italian Lampedusa. Despite the risk, Africans never cease to stream to the West to seek greener pastures. Therefore notwithstanding the negative effects of immigration, many are those who believe it is advantageous to both poor and rich countries. While European societies need immigrants to deliver vital services and boost their economies, poor countries benefits from the colossal remittances immigrants hurl back home. “There can be no doubt that European societies need immigrants. Europeans are living longer and having fewer children.

Without immigration, the population of the soon-to- be twenty-five member states of the EU will drop, from 450 million now to under 400 million in 2050 (…), jobs will go unfilled and services undelivered, as economies shrink and societies stagnate,” said Kofi Annan.

On the other hand, he added, “Migrants sent at least 88 billion dollars in remittances in 2002 – 54 percent more than the 57 billion dollars those countries received in development aid”.