Archive for the ‘Migrant Crisis’ Category

Lithuanian border guards have detained a record number of migrants on the border with Belarus – Belsat

According to preliminary data of the State Border Guard Service of Lithuania, over the last day, the border guards have detained 171 migrants who illegally crossed the border from Belarus.

The total number of migrants illegally crossing the Belarusian-Lithuanian border in 2021 has exceeded 3 thousand, which is 35 times more than in the whole year of 2020.

All detainees introduced themselves as Iraqi citizens or had documents of Iraqi citizens. The detained foreigners will be tested for COVID-19, writes DELFI.LT. They will be isolated until the results are known.

Most of the migrants are trying to get through Lithuania to the countries of Western Europe.

Lithuania has accused the Belarusian border guards of ignoring the trespassers. The Lithuanians claim that their Belarusian colleagues do not contribute to their work. The neighboring country has strengthened the border security and even installed barbed wire along the 5 km section, while there are plans to install more than 20 km of barbed wire.

On July 27, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that the state of emergency due to the influx of migrants into Lithuania could be imposed only as a last resort. Now, he sees no need for it. He called Lukashenkas regime responsible for the migrant crisis on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border.

Continue reading here:
Lithuanian border guards have detained a record number of migrants on the border with Belarus - Belsat

Govs. DeSantis and Abbott, in border visit, warn migrant crisis ripple effect on other states – Fox News

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday visited the southern border and warned that the surge in migrants and deadly drugs like fentanyl is having, or will have, a knock-on effect in other states.

Just the scale of this in terms of the stress of public resources, school, medical other things, this is going to greatly impact communities throughout Florida and I think across the country," DeSantis said at a press conference.

TEXAS GOV. ABBOTT SLAMS FEDS FOR COMPLETE ABANDONMENT OF BORDER LAWS AMID UNPRECEDENTED MIGRANT SURGE

"This is a situation where all states need to be a part of the process of stepping up," Abbott said.

The pair spoke in the Del Rio Sector as the Florida governor visited the Lone Star state to see the border crisis in person. He met with Abbott and was briefed by law enforcement officials on the crisis, and also paid visits to the border wall and areas affected by the crisis.

There were more than 188,000 migrant encounters in June alone, bringing the total number of migrant encounters in fiscal year 2021 to more than a million. Additionally drugs like fentanyl have been seized in greater quantities, with a 12% increase in June and 78% more seizures in FY 2021 than all of FY2020.

DeSantis noted that his state is having a problem with methamphetamine, and said that 95% of it came from the border.

MIGRANT ARRESTS AT SOUTHERN BORDER ROSE YET AGAIN IN JUNE TO 188,000, TOPPING 1M THIS FISCAL YEAR

"What happens at the border happens here today, but it will be happening in these other states tomorrow or next week or next month," Abbott said.

DeSantis said that he was shocked to hear from officials in Del Rio that the majority of the migrants being processed into the U.S. had Florida as their final destination.

"70 percent of the people they have interdicted said their ultimate destination is the state of Florida, so this is something, whenever theres a wave across the border, Im not saying it's 70 percent in every part of the border but here it's the majority," he said.

TRUMP-ERA DHS OFFICIALS WARN OF CATASTROPHIC RESULTS IF ADMINISTRATION ENDS TITLE 42 BORDER EXPULSIONS

Both Abbott and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey had issued a call for help from other states, asking them to send manpower and law enforcement to help at the border. Florida was one of those states that responded, along with states like South Dakota and Iowa.

Texas has launched a number of efforts to stem the crisis, including putting down a $250 million down payment on a new wall construction project after the Biden administration abruptly ended the project in January.

Additionally, it has cleared out jails to hold more illegal immigrants and made efforts to arrest those coming in illegally. Abbott said Operation Lone Star had resulted in the apprehension of 50,000 illegal aliens, 2,000 criminal illegal immigrants, and disrupted 40 stash houses.

DeSantis said Floridian personnel have helped apprehend more than 2,800 illegal immigrants, with 100 arrests for felonies including human trafficking, drug smuggling and vehicle theft.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The two governors, both Republicans, blame the Biden administration for the crisis -- pointing to the rollback of Trump-era policies like the border wall and the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), arguing that if those policies were brought back, the crisis would end.

"We appreciate you stepping up where the federal government wont," DeSantis told his Texan counterpart. "We understand how important this is to not just Texas but other states and we are absolutely going to see impacts in Florida and other states if we dont turn the tide on this."

Read the original post:
Govs. DeSantis and Abbott, in border visit, warn migrant crisis ripple effect on other states - Fox News

Harrowing day in the life of a crisis as desperate migrants say ‘England is hope’ – The Mirror

Within 24 hours the migrant crisis along Britains South coast will pass an unwelcome milestone. Last year a total of 8,410 desperate men, women and children successfully made the dangerous 21 mile (34km) crossing.

On Monday, when a record 430 migrants arrived on 14 boats, this years figure had risen to 8,159.

This means that since Brexit almost double the numbers of refugees have been risking their lives to enter the United Kingdom.

Today - Tuesday - the Mirror headed to Kent to report on the scale of the humanitarian crisis first-hand

Its 8am in the morning and one look out to sea confirms the forecast - perfect weather, with not a cloud or breath of wind in the sky.

What is your view on the migrant crisis, Brexit, and the Home Office's response? Join the discussion in the comment section

Image:

But these conditions are also perfect for the people smuggling gangs who have been launching boats up and down the coast of Northern France and Belgium during the early hours.

Sure enough, at 9am I receive an alert informing me the RNLI has dispatched a boat from its station in Dungeness. As I travel to the scene I hear the Border Forces patrol vessel is also at sea - a sure sign migrant boats are on their way towards shore.

At around 9.30am I watch as the first boat of the day arrives on the wide, shingle beach in Dungeness, Kent. A group of 32 men, mainly from Iran and North Africa, are shepherded by police away from their black dinghy, which is powered by an outboard motor.

One man named Ahmed, from Iran, tells me he and his friends paid 2,500-3000 Euros each for a place on the boat. A quick bit of maths shows this small inflatable has been worth almost 100,000 euros to the gangsters who control illegal immigration in Northern Europe.

Image:

Follow all the latest news by signing up to one of the Mirror's newsletters

Ahmed says they set off from France in the dead of night before making a ten hour journey across the channel. When I ask how safe the crossing was he tells me: very dangerous before adding simply: not nice trip.

The group, including one man wearing a Live or Die T-shirt, stumbles across the stony beach towards a makeshift processing centre at the Dungeness RNLI station.

Some shelter in the shade of the building while others stretch full length to sunbathe as they wait to be booked in by police.

A PC in a high-vis jacket is in charge of formally arresting the migrants. While searching one man and bagging up his possessions he tells him: You have entered the UK illegally - you are under arrest.

When the man replies I accept the copper laughs and tells colleagues and thats nice of him isnt it?.

The man is then asked his age - 37 - before being moved to sit in a separate area.

There is one moment of drama as a makeshift knife - a Stanley blade attached to a handle wrapped in duct tape - is discovered discarded on the floor.

Image:

At 10.30am a coach arrives ready to transport the men to a Home Office immigration centre. After receiving reports of another boat landing I leave the area as the next migrant stands up to be told: You have entered the UK illegally - you are under arrest.

Half a mile South along the beach I find another group of 12 men and boys sitting on the perimeter of the Dungeness nuclear power station.

In the shadow of a barbed-wire fence they are being guarded by four officers. Some are armed cops from the Civil Nuclear Constabulary while others are from Kent Police.

One Iranian man tells me his group left France almost the middle of the night for a 12 hour crossing. The 23-year-old, who did not want his name published, says he paid 2,000 euros for the trip.

Image:

He tells me: It was dangerous - awful. The man left his home country four years ago in the hope of a better life. He adds wearily: Its a long journey, Im so tired.

Monday saw the highest ever number of crossings in a single day, with 430 migrants landing successfully. I ask one armed PC whether they are expecting more today. Its got to be getting close now for sure, he admits.

The third boat - and the first containing women and children - arrives shortly after midday. With 42 migrants on board it is visibly listing to one side while being winched into the shallows.

Among the first to disembark is a dad who carries his young toddler under one arm while hanging onto the ladder. After being handed his welcome pack - a single Covid face mask - the man, from Kuwait, reveals in broken English that his family paid 8,000 euros for the crossing.

Image:

He looks exhausted as he recounts how his family - four kids and two parents - lived for one month in the camps of Northern France before making the nine hour trip.

Their entire possessions appear to be a small bundle of clothes. He tells me his daughters are 12 and 11 while his sons are aged seven and 20 months.

The seven-year-old plays with pebbles while walking up the beach while his younger brother is carried by mum. When I ask whether they can swim - miming breaststroke with my arms - the dad shakes his head and looks away.

His daughter adds firmly: no. They tell me they were protected by lifejackets. When asked whether the French authorities helped them cross the man shrugs. They dont know the politics and dont care.

Image:

As the other passengers disembark one man from Syria flashes me a tired smile before proclaiming I love England.

Another, Zakaria, 21, says he has arrived on the beach just 45 days after fleeing his native Iran. He paid 400 for the Channel crossing but didnt have money left for food. He adds: Its been four days now I didnt eat. Crossing the seas was very,

very dangerous. In the Aegean water [the Mediterranean] we was around five or six days in the water. We were 18 in a small wooden ship, if it sinks - we die.

But we are already ready for death, because it was living death in our country.

Image:

Zakaria, who travelled through Turkey, Italy and France, says he left Iran after being kicked out of school. He adds that his brother was attacked - possibly killed.

Speaking about his plans for the future he says: My family are in Iran, theres nothing I can do for them.

England is hope. I came because England is a modern country and I speak the language.

I think they treat us fairly here, we hope they will treat us as a human.

So we come here hoping for a new life, a new future.

I will try my best to become a science teacher.

In 2019 these types of landings were relatively rare events. But the surge in crossings since Brexit means processing migrants has become business as usual for the local emergency services.

The third landing at Dungeness was watched - and photographed - by around 20 tourists who had gathered on the beach.

Images of human suffering will now form part of their holiday albums.

I watched 86 people land on a half-mile stretch of beach in just three hours, and the scale of the crisis is worrying locals.

Landlady Mimi Durbridge, from the Jolly Fisherman pub, tells me she was left in tears after witnessing a similar landing earlier this year.

Mimi, herself a mum, says: It was one of the most heart-wrenching things Ive ever seen. There were a couple of men, a few women and some small children. They were five, six, seven years old - so old enough to know what was going on.

"It was a real eye opener for me, it was harrowing.

I was similarly moved watching the 20-month-old boy being carried ashore by his dad.

These types of images are usually associated with refugees fleeing war or natural disasters.

But with crossings rising daily they are set to become a familiar sight on British beaches - unless something is done.

Continued here:
Harrowing day in the life of a crisis as desperate migrants say 'England is hope' - The Mirror

Risch, Crapo: Revoking Title 42 Will Have Dire Impact on Crisis at Southern Border – Jim Risch

WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo (both R-Idaho) joined Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), along with 22 additional Senate Republican colleagues, in urging President Biden not to revoke Title 42, a critical tool implemented last year to protect public health.Issued by the Centers for Disease Control and enforced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Title 42 allows immigration officials to rapidly expel illegal immigrants and slow the spread of COVID-19 at the border.Media reports indicate the Administration plans to end this authority by the end of this month.

Ending this order will have a dire impact on the crisis already engulfing our southwestern border,wrote the Senators.We urge you in the strongest possible terms not to take this action. The administrations first priority must be to protect the American homeland.Allowing political considerations to overrule the clear public health threat created by the spread of COVID-19 at the border is reckless and irresponsible.

A copy of the letter can be foundhereand below:

Dear Mr. President,

The COVID-19 pandemic is the most significant public health crisis the United States has faced in our lifetime. Recent reports indicate the administration is considering immediately terminating the public health authority granted to immigration officials under Sections 362 and 365 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C. 265, 268. Ending this order will have a dire impact on the crisis already engulfing our southwestern border. We urge you in the strongest possible terms not to take this action.

On March 20, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order pursuant to its public health authority under Title 42. This order allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately expel aliens who would otherwise be held in congregate settings, including Border Patrol Stations and land Ports of Entry, rather than process them under its traditional Title 8 authorities.

COVID-19 is a highly transmissible virus, and limiting the number of individuals held in close proximity is a completely justified measure while the threat of COVID-19 persists. This is why federal immigration officials continue making robust use of the Title 42 authority.

According to the most recent data, DHS expelled 112,302 migrants encountered along the southwest land border pursuant to the CDC Order in May 2021. This constitutes a dramatic increase over the 20,895 migrants expelled along the southwest land border the previous May. In contrast, 67,732 aliens encountered along the southwest land border were processed under DHSs traditional Title 8 authorities in May 2021, compared with 2,342 in May 2020.

Immigration facilities are overwhelmed. Revoking the authority of officials to rapidly expel illegal migrants under Title 42 without a clear plan in place to handle the stress this population will place on the system and on border communities will further exacerbate the crisis at the southwestern border.

Furthermore, your administration continues warning the American public about the dangers posed by the variants of COVID-19. Recently, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, made clear, This rapid rise is troubling. She went on to state that, The delta variant is surging in pockets of the country.

The Department of State also recently issued an advisory regarding travel to Mexicothe country through which the vast majority of migrants affected by the CDC Order passstating, Do not travel to Mexico due to COVID-19.[4]If the CDC and the State Department believe that the threat of COVID-19 is actually increasing (and specifically in Mexico), it is contradictory for the Biden Administration to simultaneously revoke the public health authority used by immigration officials to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The administrations first priority must be to protect the American homeland. Allowing political considerations to overrule the clear public health threat created by the spread of COVID-19 at the border is reckless and irresponsible.

We request the administration retain the order under 42 U.S.C. 265 and 268 until (1) the threat of COVID-19 variants is significantly reduced, (2) the administration has consulted with State, local, and tribal governments regarding any modification to this authority, and (3) policies have been implemented to bring the situation along the southwest land border under control and ensure that DHS and Office of Refugee Resettlement facilities will not be overwhelmed by sudden, large increases in the migrant population.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

# # #

Read more from the original source:
Risch, Crapo: Revoking Title 42 Will Have Dire Impact on Crisis at Southern Border - Jim Risch

Britons shocked by new migrant crisis as 430 arrive on English shores in 1 day, a new record – RT

Many Britons have questioned why the country is facing another migrant crisis after 430 asylum seekers landed on British shores on Monday, just months after the UK finally took back control of its borders from the EU.

The Home Office has said that at least 430 migrants crossed the English Channel from France on Monday with Britains heatwave providing ideal crossing conditions.

The figure marks a new daily record for migrant crossings in a single day and sees the total number of crossings this year nearly surpass the number registered in the entirety of 2020. The near 8,000 crossings so far in 2021 are around four times more than what was seen in all of 2019.

Continuing its tough rhetoric on Channel crossings, the Home Office told the BBC it was taking substantial steps to tackle the unacceptable problem of illegal migration.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has vowed to make illegal migration a thing of the past. The Nationality and Borders Bill, which has completed its second reading in the House of Commons, seeks to make illegal entry to the UK a crime punishable with four years in prison.

Government plans could also see asylum seekers sent to third countries to be processed. Denmark has already announced similar plans, with Rwanda being a potential processing location.

In late 2020 and earlier this year, the UK Home Office came under intense scrutiny after reports in the media about plans to send asylum seekers to far-flung British territories, including Ascension Island and even disused oil rigs.

However, Britains plans to take back its borders, a slogan and policy enabled by Brexit, is yet to come to fruition, angering many in the UK. Some took to Twitter to register their dismay at the number of dinghies landing on British shores on Monday.

For all those looking to immigrate to the UK. It is a lot cheaper and faster to simply cross the channel, one person wrote ironically on Twitter, adding that they could bypass NHS fees and other requirements for migration.

Another person asked why the government was taking away her freedom with the introduction of vaccine passports, but these migrants could illegally enter Britain with impunity.

However, not everyone was angry, some pointed out that the UK had the capacity to care for these people while another said she felt sorry for them, coming all the way to the UK to find theyre treated like animals.

Speaking on Monday evening during his first-ever show on GB News, Brexiteer Nigel Farage said that migrant crossings would once again become the biggest non-coronavirus story in the news this summer.

Farage struck a foreboding tone, warning once again about the costs and risks of illegal migration to the UK and the need for reform in the asylum system.

If you like this story, share it with a friend!

See the original post here:
Britons shocked by new migrant crisis as 430 arrive on English shores in 1 day, a new record - RT