Illegal Immigration
By: Mohamed Ash-had
http://acarvaj.blogspot.com (17th Sep 2010)
Human Migration is the movement of people from one place in the world to another for the purpose of taking up permanent or semi permanent residence, usually across a political boundary. (Geographic, 2005). Migration often entails a seasonal movement of location, but can also be a permanent change of location(s), therefore making it a 'parent' term of 'immigration' and 'emigration'. Migration, more so than immigration or emigration, is also relevant when discussing human movement at the sub-country level. (Witners, 2010). Illegal Immigration is one of the most controversial topics in the social and political sphere of the today’s world. Immigrants play a fundamental role in the labour force and the social life of countries. Especially Maldives is pulling record numbers of legal and illegal immigrants to fill the low-status, low-paying, or hard jobs that Maldivian natives reject.
According to the Maldivian foreign minister, the number of Bangladeshis in this country is around 50,000 now and one-third of them are either working or staying there illegally. (Latheef, 2011). In addition, the information session which was conducted by immigration of Maldives states the past 03 years of foreign labours statistics (Figure 1). Illegal immigration has impact on many political, economical, social and ethical issues. Since the end of World War II, millions of immigrants from developing countries have settled in Western Europe. (Givens & McGowen, 2007). The total number of international migrants worldwide in 2010 is estimated to be 214 million persons. This figure has remained relatively stable as a share of the global population, increasing only by 0.1 per cent, from 3.0 per cent to 3.1 per cent, between 2005 and 2010 (UN DESA, 2009). (IOM, 2010). The largest migrant stock of any country worldwide, while six of the top ten countries with the largest foreign-born populations are USA, Russia, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Canada, France, UK, Spain, India and Ukraine (IOM, 2010)
Figure 1- Census of registered foreign workers form 01 July 2009 to 10 September 2011
Source: Information session (Migration) conducted by Department of immigration and emigration Maldives (05th October 2011)
Why would people leave their country and illegally enter another country thereby risking their lives? People may perhaps migrate to different places or countries due to many reasons. Long-term migrants change their residence for long periods of time, usually defined as 1year or more. In addition, temporary migrants move for short periods of time and do not change their primary residence. The low resources and the geographical condition make huge challenging to the immigration and the controlling authorities in Maldives. But on the other hand, the developed countries like UK; US are using modern facilities like, land, sea, and air boarder controlling systems. According to International Organization for Migration report states, Fifty-seven per cent of all migrants live in high-income countries – up from 43 per cent in 1990. Migrants make up 10 per cent of the population of high-income regions (compared to 7.2 per cent in 1990) (UN DESA, 2009). (IOM, 2010). Some Factors like, Poverty, war, religions restriction, and unemployment, poor education, illnesses, diseases, a poor health system, lack of liberty and even the climate, can change a humans mind and make them to leave a particular country or place. There is also a refuge which is a person who was forced to leave his country due to a particular reason whether it’s a crime, political issue, or social. According to the International Organization for Migration's World Migration Report 2010, the number of international migrants was estimated at 214 million in 2010. If this number continues to grow at the same pace as during the last 20 years, it could reach 405 million by 2050. (Wikipedia, Hijra(islam), 2011)
Discriminations are very common in almost every immigrant, and mostly illegal immigrants are facing much more challenging today. According to Maldivian immigration statistics all most all immigrants of this country have almost always confronted some sort of discrimination like hardest low wages jobs, Poor accommodations and other survival needs. In the Maldives, larger proportion of low-skilled labours work mostly in construction industry. But other industries like agriculture, manufacturing, foreigners such a laboured force is not very common. Most of the maldivian foriners change their leagal condition to illegal for various reasons. Instead of low wages, most of the employers hold their salaries for long duration and also, fraud recritment also help to hide their identities. According to maldivian media reports, the numbers of human trafficing activities has been introduces in maldives very recently, and the most of the victims are illegal immigrants. “In addition to Bangladeshis and Indians, some migrants from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Nepal reportedly experienced recruitment fraud before arriving in the Maldives,” the report noted. (Robinson, 2011). The Maldives did not provide access to services such as shelter, counseling, medical care, or legal aid to foreign or Maldivian victims of trafficking. The government did not conduct any anti-trafficking or educational campaigns in the Maldives, nor did it take any measures to reduce demand for forced labour within the country.”
The illegal immigrations causes environment, social, economical, political and security issues to the maldives. Firstly, the environmental issues such as over population and stressing natural resources are causing bad effects to maldivian environment by illegal migrants. Secondly, the larger holiday of maldivian like friday the public parks are over crowding by forighn labours, so this make loosing of maldivian social harmony. Another, maldivian marriage figures shows the inter cultural marriage has been increasing day by day. And then, health issues like, some new deaseses like malaria were introduces in maldives. Thirdly, the economical factors like rapid economical standars of country decreasing, job market inbalance, drainage large amount of foringhn currencies. And also, the actual amount of visa revenue (Figure 2) loosing the country. Fourthly, political issues are not very common in Maldives by the legal and illegal immigrants. The constitution in Maldives not allows for participation the foreigners to any political events. But some other political issues such as deporting foreigners cause effects to foreign relation issues. Finally, security issues like, entering of immigrating international criminals, violation of employment contact. Unmonitored migration movement, insecurity to employer. Engage criminal activities such as Prostitution, theft, Drugs trade, violence, indecent behavior, child abuse etc..,). But on the other hand, the neighboring countries like India and Srilakna has causing many political problems by the illegal immigrants.
Figure 2- Revenue generated from work visa fee and estimated loss of revenue from July 2009 – June 2011
Source: Information session (Migration) conducted by Department of immigration and emigration Maldives (05th October 2011)
The increasing of immigration would create large impact of crime. The overall picture of immigrants and crime remains confused due to a lack of good data and contrary information in Maldives. But some media reports elaborate most of the immigrants engaging the crime of Maldives. The major crime like, prostitution, theft, drug dealing, trade violate and child abuse, the most recent research indicates approximately 35% of the California population consists of illegal immigrants, while illegal immigrants represent 17% of the prison population. (Wikipedia, Illigal Imigration in US, 2011). Migrant workers from Bangladesh and to a lesser extent, India, are being subjected to forced labour in the Maldives, primarily in the construction and service sectors, while women and girls are also being subjected to sex trafficking, the report said. (Robinson, 2011). Bangladeshi nationals were especially vulnerable to labour trafficking, the report stated, citing “diplomatic sources” as claiming that half the Bangladeshi workers in the country had arrived illegally, having paid between US$1000 and US$4000 in ‘recruitment fees’. (Robinson, 2011). More commonly, “Recruitment agents collude with employers and agents in the Maldives to facilitate fraudulent recruitment and forced labour of migrant workers.”
Illegal immigration plays an active role, either positive or negative – in the development of communities and countries. There are several reasons why illegal immigration is good for the countries like Maldives. Most of the Maldivian employers save money for giving low wages to the illegal immigrant labours. Most of the farmers use illegal workers to plant and harvest less expensively. On the other hand, illegal immigration causes negative effects to the societies as well. Every year illegal and legal immigrant sends million of us dollars outside the country. Low wagers trends of foreign labour force make more unemployment young generations.
The developed countries even make huge challenges to overcome the illegal immigration issues. But, we can minimize the actual issues by following some strategies. We cannot totally deport all the illegal immigrants, because there are many legal procedures to follow. Most countries (especially emigration countries) lack of effective system for monitoring international migration. Moreover, definitions and statistical categories vary considerably. The two separate databases kept by the Immigration Department and Human Resources Ministry has a variance of greater than 20000 which is making it difficult to estimate the size of the problem. (Maldivesresortworkers, 2011) Furthermore, the most important solution for illegal immigration is better border security and implement the respecitive rules and regulations accordingly. And more, enforce the immigration laws currently on the books.
In summary, human illegal immigration can either be positive or negative. The positive impact is very less than the consequences of the illegal immigrants. The illegal immigration cannot stopped totally, but we can minimize the total number of illegal immigrants. The fact is the developed countries are still unable to overcome this issue with the efficient equipments and resources. However, to minimize the illegal immigration in the Maldives, we can suggest some recommendations for the issue. Firstly, instead of maintaining two ministries we can make two databases as one. Secondly, we should implement the law-enforcement strategies strictly. Thirdly, we can establish new MOU’s with the experience developing countries like USA. Fourthly, we can establish modern detection facilities like facial detection systems, fingerprinting systems. Finally, we should combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking. So, to some recommendation are, reconstruct the immigration data base, implement the rules and regulations, the developing countries like Maldives having very high bad effect due to illegal immigration. So if we do not stop illegal immigration as soon as possible, it will lead to unbearable consequences to our next generations.
http://acarvaj.blogspot.com (17th Sep 2010)
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