Migration over the last year has been dominated by economic issues, as European migration became a balance, and sometimes a conflict, between new cultures and old cultures. Rights and migration were the questions in places like Calais and reducing illegal immigration on European beaches and discovering a new way to take in immigrants who can support the aging population in the EU and the region. In the Americas, the crunch of the recession has even affected illegal migration, so much so that the lack of jobs have reduced the numbers of illegal immigrants in the US, but also has taken one of the main sources of income for many in Mexico and Central America, transfers, and created a shortfall in funds in the process. While immigration policy worldwide is a distinct and unique challenge, economic policy in 2009 has taken hold of many migration issues and put them in the crosshairs, as poverty and migration often go hand in hand.
Person of the Year: Migration
It can be difficult to choose one person this year who could be seen as a champion or protagonist of immigration policy, but some notable groups of people or agencies should be noted as the policymakers in France who decided to address the refugee camp near Calais, France, and those policymakers in Switzerland who decided surprisingly that new Mosques would no longer be allowed to create Minarets which are higher that certain structures in Swiss cities and towns. Addressing Calais is a two edged sword, as while no one wishes that migrants from places like Iraq and Afghanistan should be camped in limbo in Northern Europe, awaiting a lorry and pushing to move into the UK, at the same time there is a paralysis on what to do with so many migrants wishing to make the dangerous journey. The normally passive Swiss Muslim community was shocked to find one of the most integrated societies in Europe creating a policy which while not having a direct effect on European Muslim’s daily lives, does show signs of a division in the normally passive Swiss society. While the fear of the other is a theme of many political debates in Europe, a ban on a part of Middle Eastern culture will do nothing more than create more debate and encourage feelings of divided societies.
Most Unexpected Event: Migration
It is difficult to say if this event was unexpected, but with an economic downturn the effect on illegal immigration to the US created a slow in the number of illegal migrants in general. The surprising factor however was the numbers of illegal immigrants already in the US migrating back to their countries of origin due to the lack of employment in the US in general. Often with economic struggles, the poorest in society are affected the greatest, and with the US those migrants from poorer countries have opted in some cases to return to their home countries until the economy recovers.
What to Watch for in 2010: Migration
The next year in 2010 will be the year where environmental issues and migration will become an issue of greater importance. Many larger economies will start to earn back some of their lost funds from 2008-2009 and refocus their immigration policy on migrants who can contribute to the economy and how to integrate their skills and tax making power into countries with larger aging populations. Policy to make immigration part of the overall economic engine of those countries who lost much of their revenue will be key, while those same immigrant rich societies will become the norm in policy approaches over the next year.
Next year I will move from being the Migration blogger since 2007 toward writing on my other blog, Latin America, and start to write for the European Union blog as well. I will still be writing on Migration issues and put up the occasional post, but have taken my three years writing on Migration and will post on larger issues of the EU and Latin America. Thanks for reading!!
