The US Senate's failure to move the compromise bill on immigration reform forward has dominated headlines over the past few days. Meanwhile, the election of the first black mayor in Ireland is being heralded as a success of that country's integration policies. As Portugal takes over the rotating EU Council Presidency from Germany for the next six months, the European Council of Refugees and Exiles highlights a number of priorities, including the creation of a pan-European asylum system.
- The Economist summarizes the proposed US immigration bill and the political arguments that ultimately led to its failure.
- Randal Archibold of the NYT visited US migrants as the news broke to gather their impressions. His five-page article vividly proves why the current legal situation is unsatisfactory, and endangers the lives and livelihoods of many thousands of migrants living, working and contributing to the US economy in all 50 States today.
- The first black mayor in Ireland is heralding his election as a proof of how well European societies can adapt to rapid flows of migration, the Guardian reports. Rotimi Adebari, who arrived in Ireland as an asylum seeker seven years ago and had difficulties finding employment in the first few years, was elected mayor ofPortlaoise, backed by established parties, including Fine Gael and Sinn Féin councilors.
- Another migrant vessel sank between Libya and Malta this weekend, killing at least 20 would-be immigrants. German newspaper, the Frankfurter Rundschau, is reporting that the Italian government has reacted and presented a new immigration law to curtail immigration but de-criminalize the attempt to land on Italian shore. Romano Prodi's coalition government is also proposing to get rid of the obligatory language test introduced by the previous conservative government under Silvio Berlusconi. Instead, the new law introduces the concept of “sponsors” which commit themselves to guaranteeing a job or financial support to allow a new migrant legal status. In addition, the government wants to end the mandatory detention of illegal immigrants. Only violent or uncooperative migrants are to be detained in the future and financial aid offered to facilitate the return of those migrants not accorded the temporary right to stay. The opposition led by Berlusconi has announced to fight this new legal proposal. We will cover this story and add English links as soon as they become available.
- The European Council on Refugees and Exiles has published its memorandum to the Portuguese EU Presidency, recalling the priorities toward creating a Common European Asylum System by 2010.