[noborders-brum] making a statement about Amnesty
phunkee
phunkee at riseup.net
Mon Jun 25 14:53:20 UTC 2007
Shiar wrote:
>On Sun, June 24, 2007 4:48 am, phunkee wrote:
>
>
>>Following the rally yesterday which we're mentioned as a 'supporting
>>group', shouldn't we make a statement about our position on Amnestys?
>>
>>
>
>So I've put together a quick draft (basically based on the London
>Noborders leaflet from a while ago). Below is the text. For easy reading,
>see here
>http://makebordershistory.org/workspace/BirminghamNoBorders_statement_on_amnesties
>
>
There's been some changes that are documented on the same page.
Essentially we are concerned that talk of an amnesty is purely
speculative and fosters even more precarity.
Here they are in full:
Birmingham NoBorders statement on asylum amnesties
In light of the national (now mainstream) campaign demanding an amnesty
for some, selected asylum seekers[1], and even more radical campaigns
demanding a general amnesty for all, Birmingham NoBorders would like to
stress a few points related to asylum amnesties.
Not all amnesties are the same. Those campaigning for one need to
consider what kind of amnesty or regularisation they want. Some
amnesties may cause great suffering and consequently result in
strengthening the immigration system.
An amnesty is not a long term solution because it does not affect the
causes of immigration. Those arriving after an amnesty would still be
declared 'illegal', forced to work illegally for sweatshop wages and be
subject to detention, destitution and deportation. There is also a real
danger that an amnesty could open the door for stronger immigration
controls for those who don’t "make the grade" or who arrive after an
amnesty ends.[2] It is also worth noting that the government has
repeatedly ruled out the prospect of an amnesty for failed asylum
seekers, so raising false hopes doesn't really help people.[3]
While asylum amnesties may give some security to limited numbers of
migrants living in precarious conditions, they are by no means
universal. A campaign for amnesty could, at best, be the basis for a
wider campaign against the unfairness of the immigration system itself.
While we do support the demands of asylum seekers, over-stayers and
migrants in general to improve their lives, we want to make sure that
all migrants are aware of the dangers inherent in amnesties and the
specific dangers concealed in some of the proposals that are being
bandied around.
We, at Birmingham NoBorders, believe that we need not just an amnesty
but the complete abolition of immigration controls. We believe that
no-one is illegal and migration cannot and should not be "managed". Any
attempt to strengthen immigration controls is futile in the face of the
wars, political repression, global exploitation, gender inequalities and
environmental destruction that drive migration. "Stronger" immigration
controls only cause massive suffering and reinforce racist ideas.[4]
Notes:
[1] Strangers into Citizens is calling for a "pathway into citizenship",
via a two-year work permit, for migrants who have been in the UK for
more than four years. The campaign has the backing of leading church
figures, trade unions, the Mayor of London and some businesses. For more
information, see http://www.strangersintocitizens.org.uk
[2] "Naturalisation programmes" have been carried out by many European
countries in the past. Since 1981, there have been more than 20
"regularisations" in France, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg,
Portugal and Spain. Most, if not all, of these were followed by mass
deportations and new, stricter immigration controls.
[3] See here
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2006-06-19a.1064.5&s=section%3Adebates+section%3Awhall+speaker%3A11360#g1066.0
and here
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2007-02-19a.14.4&s=section%3Adebates+section%3Awhall+speaker%3A11360#g15.7,
for example.
[4] The new Borders Bill already allocated more funds and powers to the
new Border and Immigration Agency to "deter, detect and deport those
breaking the rules and ensure that those foreign nationals legally in
the UK play their part in upholding the rules."
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