The migrant issue that raised a furor across the world a couple of months ago is neither a forgotten nor a foregone one. Although the dust has apparently settled down, the issue is very much alive particularly in countries braving the crisis. The influx of refugees from Asia and Africa boating to some European countries fleeing conflicts at home has stopped for the time being, but the issue is far from being resolved. As a recent study report reveals, there are about 69.0 million people in the world who are internally displaced and one out of every 200 children are growing up with no education and very little medical care. They are refugees in their own country. Situation at home is so compelling that a large segment of these people are always looking for ways to escape war or conflicts at home and migrate to another country to save their lives. These are cases of involuntary migration, when people are forced to take an uncertain journey towards an unknown world. There are also those who migrate voluntarily to materialise the inherent human desire for a better life. But both these cases at times overlap each other on some occasions and one can hardly be differentiated from another.
People opting voluntarily to migrate to another country generally hire the services of manpower traders to materialise their dream of a better life. A group of dishonest traders who has a strong network worldwide takes advantage of the situation and lures innocent people with offers of better and higher income generating jobs. This is human trafficking as it is called today which is actually a modern version of ancient slave trade that dates back to thousands of years.
This has been happening with our people as well and Bangladesh case came into global attention when tragic deaths of smuggled people in the jungles of Thailand and Malaysia were uncovered. Â
However, the immigration issue - involving both refugees from conflict-torn countries and job seekers from poor countries - is being increasingly framed as a security issue in many countries, particularly in Europe. Mainstream politicians in these countries, bowing to pressure from fear-mongering populists, are calling for tighter restrictions, and some countries are openly flouting their legal obligation and moral responsibility to provide protection to refugees particularly those fleeing conflicts at home. As the migrants leave their shores fleeing from conflicts at home to save their lives, they should not be viewed as a security threat, rather they should be treated humanely.
Good news is that, even as corrosive political discourse impedes effective action at the national and international levels, progressive and effective immigrant-integration initiatives are flourishing at the local levels in many countries. Local administrators are building social and physical infrastructure that supports the integration of migrants and refugees into local communities. They think that the immigrants are not mere statistics, they are real people who can be gainfully employed as a potentially productive force and the key to tapping their potential is a well-managed integration process.
For instance, an identity card, iDNYC has been introduced by New York City Authorities that has allowed access to a variety of services for all residents, regardless of their status. Many city authorities collaborating with local business firms, have also channeled resources toward promoting entrepreneurship and professional training for migrants.
In Auckland, New Zealand, where one-third of the population is foreign-born, the Omega project, inspired by a Canadian initiative, new migrants are placed under skilled mentors and offered paid internships.
The Bike Project in London, refurbishes discarded bicycles, and gives them to migrants to serve as affordable transportation.
Such a process is not going to be easy and the challenges are numerous and daunting.
That is why a proactive approach is vitally important which can conclusively put to rest the concerns raised over the issue. And that is precisely what some city authorities are pursuing. Â
Better still, local authorities are increasingly forming alliances with other city platforms around the world and turn the challenges of integration into new opportunities. Had these initiatives been taken a little earlier, many lives could have been saved. Bangladeshis who were killed and buried hastily in the jungles of Thailand would not have lost their lives. Many more immigrants dying at sea early this year could have been saved. That is why integrating the immigrants into the local community is now the demand of time.
Such local initiatives should be integrated into national policy framework of countries. The governments must realise that immigrants are not just mute numbers, they are working hands who can be profitably employed and utilised to boost production and contribute to national economy. Â
National and international debates about migration are deeply flawed, owing to their extraordinary focus on security and as such policies that result are also defective. If city authorities, which have proved their willingness and ability to handle the immigrant issue in innovative ways, are empowered to play a more active role in crafting immigration policies and country authorities frame policies to integrate the initiatives of the city authorities in national policy formulation, everyone would benefit.
saleh.akram26@gmail.com
Integrating immigrants with local communities
Saleh Akram | Published: September 27, 2016 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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