Migrant crisis Archives - Read Selective

Netanyahu demands Eritrean migrants in violent Tel Aviv clash to be deported immediately

Members of Israel’s security forces clash with Eritrean asylum-seekers protesting an event organised by Eritrea’s government in the coastal city of Tel Aviv on September 2, 2023. (AFP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he wants Eritrean migrants involved in a violent clash in Tel Aviv to be deported immediately and has ordered a plan to remove all of the country’s African migrants.
The remarks came a day after bloody protests by rival groups of Eritreans in south Tel Aviv left dozens of people injured. Eritreans, supporters and opponents of Eritrea’s government, faced off with construction lumber, pieces of metal and rocks, smashing shop windows and police cars. Israeli police in riot gear shot tear gas, stun grenades and live rounds while officers on horseback tried to control the protesters.
The violence on Saturday returned to the fore the issue of migrants, which has long divided Israel. Its resurgence comes as Israel is torn over Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan, and supporters cite the migrant issue as a reason why the courts should be reined in, saying they have stood in the way of pushing the migrants out.
“We want harsh measures against the rioters, including the immediate deportation of those who took part,” Netanyahu said in a special ministerial meeting called to deal with the aftermath of the violence. He requested that the ministers present him with plans “for the removal of all the other illegal infiltrators,” and noted in his remarks that the Supreme Court struck down some measures meant to coerce the migrants to leave.
About 25,000 African migrants live in Israel, mainly from Sudan and Eritrea, who say they fled conflict or repression. Israel recognizes very few as asylum seekers, seeing them overwhelmingly as economic migrants, and says it has no legal obligation to keep them.
The country has tried a variety of tactics to force them out, including sending some to a remote prison, holding part of their wages until after they agree to leave the country or offering cash payments to those who agree to move to another country, somewhere in Africa.
Critics accuse the government of trying to coerce the migrants into leaving. Under international law, Israel cannot forcibly send migrants back to a country where their life or liberty may be at risk.
Netanyahu said Sunday he didn’t think deporting supporters of the Eritrean government would be a problem.

Source: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2366396/middle-east

Biden admin asks New York private businesses to help migrant crisis — by offering free services

The Biden administration again shunted the responsibility of New York’s spiraling migrant crisis — this time by telling the Empire State’s private businesses to step up while it offers a measly $600 million to offset the multi-billion dollar crisis.

The proposal put forward by White House officials in a meeting with Gov. Kathy Hochul Wednesday suggested putting out a call to city companies to provide free services to the asylum seekers, including pro bono legal advice, The Post learned Thursday.

The request for handouts also extends to free help educating and consulting migrants on how to apply for work permits.

Meanwhile, the Biden admin said it would ask Congress for $600 million to help New York feed and house the crush of migrants arriving in the Big Apple under the president’s soft border policies.

Even if the Big Apple gets the paltry amount from the feds, the overall tally would be $746 million — just a fraction of the $5.2 billion already spent to care for the more than 107,000 asylum-seekers that have arrived from the southern border since spring 2022.

Mayor Eric Adams has also already warned the crisis could cost the city an eye-watering $12 billion by 2025.

The new strategy from the federal government — a slap in the face to NYC’s business community that demanded Biden take ownership of the immigration crisis — emerged just hours after Hochul trekked down to DC on Wednesday to meet with the president’s chief of staff, Jeff Zients.

The governor claimed she came out of Wednesday’s meeting “with a sense they are committed” after being promised a “surge of resources” into the city over the next couple of weeks.

Biden is again asking Congress for an additional $600 million for New York to care for migrants.
AP

“They understand that a lot of time has passed and that this situation has only grown more dire,” the governor told NY1.

The proposal also came just days after the White House scoffed at the notion it is to blame for the influx, saying the Big Apple’s and state’s own issues caused the catastrophic mess.

New York City is currently caring for nearly 60,000 asylum seekers — and thousands of migrant kids are expected to start attending public school on Sept. 7, according to the Department of Education.

The flood continues to cripple the Big Apple’s resources, with officials scrambling to find places to house the roughly 3,000 migrants that have arrived each week recently, according to City Hall officials.

Meanwhile, New York City is still waiting for the “liaison” — a point person between the federal Department of Homeland Security and Mayor Adams’ administration promised during Hizzoner’s trip to Washington, DC on July 27.

Source: https://nypost.com/2023/08/31/biden-asks-for-600m-businesses-to-help-in-migrant-crisis/

Boat between Greece and Malta carrying about 400 ‘people in distress’ is ‘taking on water’

Support service Alarm Phone tweeted its concerns, saying it had received a call from the boat, which departed from Tobruk in Libya. While German NGO Sea-Water International said those on board were in “imminent danger of death”.

The boat said to be carrying people in distress. Pic: Sea-Watch International

A boat carrying about 400 people “in distress” has been spotted adrift between Greece and Malta and is taking on water, support services have said.

German NGO Sea-Watch International tweeted that those on board were in “imminent danger of death” and called on the EU to act.

Alarm Phone also tweeted its concerns, saying it had received a call from the boat, which departed from Tobruk in Libya.

People on board are panicking and several need medical attention, Alarm Phone said, including a child, a pregnant woman and someone with a physical disability

The vessel is said to be out of fuel and its lower deck is full of water.

The captain has left and there is “nobody who can steer the boat”, Alarm Phone said.

It added that it had alerted the authorities.

The boat is now in the Maltese Search and Rescue area, Alarm Phone added.

Source: https://news.sky.com/story/boat-between-greece-and-malta-carrying-about-400-people-in-distress-is-taking-on-water-12853953