In November 1992, the ministers responsible for immigration from the 12 EU countries agreed to aim to amend their international laws on immigration by the start of 1995. The amendments will give governments the power to:
- Speed up expulsion of asylum seekers when it is found that their claims for asylum are not justified.
- Demand proof from asylum seekers that they have done everything possible legally in their own country to protect themselves from persecution.
- Refuse asylum status to people fleeing from civil war – a measure clearly aimed at refugees from Bosnia.
In June 1993 the French interior minister announced that France no longer welcomed immigrants and intended to aim for zero immigration. He presented a new legislation which would reduce the rights of immigrants living in France to apply for French nationality, including the removing the right of automatic citizenship for French born children of immigrant parents and making the acquisition of citizenship by marrying a French citizen very difficult.
One of the most disturbing trends in Europe in recent years has been the growth of violent racism, particularly in Germany. The leader of the right –wing Freedom Party in Germany is demanding a halt to all immigration, the deportation of illegal immigrants and limits on the number of non-German speaking children in Austria’s schools.
Migrants tend to settle in large groups within a city, and as a result of this racial violence can happen easily. Take for example Hafod in Swansea, the area houses a lot of Indian families. Tensions may be high from natives, as they believe that the migrants have taken over a small community, which once was theirs.
Historical experiences of immigrants in Britain.
The Irish arrived mainly in London, Lancashire, and Scotland. Religious conflict within their country, forced them to emigrate. Once settled a lot felt exploited by landlords. Although they contributed to British economy, by doing the lowest paid jobs. There was a lot of hostility from the British aimed at the Irish, as they did not trust them.
1905 saw the Aliens Act – restriction brought in to combat the amount of Jews who were arriving in Britain. Excluded immigrant entry ‘without visible means of support’ i.e. if they did not have a home to go to. If they would be receiving the poor law benefit within a year of arrival, they would be deported. Jews were fleeing from persecution in Eastern Europe.
In 1920 a new Aliens Act introduced strict regulations banning ‘aliens’ from being admitted to Britain without permission of a customs officer and excluding those who were considered unfit or who could not support themselves and their families.
The Alien Legislation sought to deter the number of black people wanting to emigrate from the colonies. Both Labour and the Conservative government wanted to reduce the number of colonial migrants entering, despite their legal rights.
Blunkett, 2002
“Unless properly managed, however, migration can be perceived as a threat to community stability and good race relations”
A lot of naturalised Germans chose to change their names in order to lose their German identity.
Human groups, which regard themselves as biologically or culturally different often, live within close proximity to one another.
Castes and Miller, note that population movements in response to demographic growth, climatic change and the development of production and trade have always been part of human history. Nations have sometimes encouraged immigration as part of nation building. Migration has also been caused by warfare and enforced migration has taken place.
At the end of the First and Second World Wars some blacks from the Commonwealth countries or American
