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http://www.theafricanews.com/immigration-news/italy/6267-eu-wide-crackdown-
on-irregular-immigration-on-the-way-advice-for-irregular-immigrants.html>
EU-wide crackdown on irregular immigration on the way
By Stephen Ogongo Ongong'a
Tuesday, 07 October 2014 12:10
Human rights organisations have strongly condemned the EU's plan to launch a
massive EU-wide police operation called "MOS MAIORUM" to hunt irregular
immigrants from 13th to 26th October 2014.
The operation, which was approved by the Council of the European Union on
10th July 2014, will be implemented in the framework of the Italian
Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
According to the Council of the European Union, the "MOS MAIORUM" operation
will be "aiming at weakening the capacity of organized crime groups to
facilitate illegal immigration to the EU and will be focusing on illegal
border crossing."
It will also be used "to collect information for intelligence and
investigation purposes, regarding the main routes followed by migrants to
enter in the common area and the modus operandi used by crime networks to
smuggle people towards the EU territory, focusing also on the secondary
movements."
COSPE (Co-operation for the Development of Emerging Countries), an Italian
non-profit association condemned the operation "MOS MAIORUM" and asked the
Italian government not to prosecute the people rescued from drowning by the
Mare-Nostrum operation.
It further urged the Italian government to avoid participating in this
"inhumane and unnecessary" operation.
In a joint statement, organizations of Filipino migrants and advocates for
migrants rights across Europe said they were concerned that "MOS MAIORUM"
operation would be "used to indiscriminately round up irregular migrants who
are merely doing socially necessary work that benefits the countries in
Europe. "
They accused the "erroneous policies stemming from xenophobia and narrow
nationalism instigated by extreme right-wing and neo-fascist political
parties," of forcing many to become irregular immigrants.
"Instead of deporting them and treating them as criminals, their irregular
status should in fact be immediately rectified because it makes them
vulnerable to abuse," the organisations said.
In order to avoid arrest and deportation, human rights organisations are
advising irregular immigrants to keep a low profile from 13th to 26th
October 2014. They are advised to avoid places mainly frequented by
immigrants. They are also advised to avoid places such as airports,
highways, railway stations, subway stations, etc.
Received on Tue Oct 07 2014 - 14:09:30 EDT