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Copyright 1999 InterPress Service, all rights reserved.
Worldwide distribution via the APC networks.
*** 09-Dec-99 ***
Title: POPULATION-EUROPE: Spain Shuts Door on Immigrants
By Alicia Fraerman
MADRID, Dec 9 (IPS) - Spain is known as Europe's southern door for
immigrants, and is on the verge of slamming it shut as a bill on
foreigners dies in parliament, leaving immigration law in limbo,
and jeopardising thousands of immigrants, until a new parliament
is elected sometime next year.
There are currently some 800,000 legal and 200,000 illegal
immigrants in Spain, with its total population of 40 million.
Parliament's first draft of the bill on foreigners, written under
the consensus of all political parties, established that the
200,000 undocumented immigrants could apply for permanent
residence.
But the governing centre-right Popular Party (PP) presented 112
amendments to the bill in Senate at the last minute Wednesday,
questioning or contradicting many of the issues included in the
proposed law, in an apparent attempt to kill it.
One of the PP's amendments states foreigners would only be
granted permanent Spanish documents if they have already been
granted temporary residence that has been renewed at least twice.
The amendment also stipulates that individuals must prove they
have economic means to support themselves and that they have not
left Spanish territory since they were first granted residency.
Another amendment limits immigrants' freedom of movement, rights
to public participation, protest, and association, as well as
their rights to work and social security.
Spain is known as Europe's ''south door'' because of its two
enclaves in North Africa, the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, which
are used by foreigners to enter Europe. Morocco also claims
sovereignty over the two cities.
In a similar process, immigrants also use the Canary Islands,
located off the northwestern African coast, as an entry point.
Spain has also been the traditional port of entry for immigrants
coming from Latin America, due to historic and cultural ties and
the dual-nationality agreements it has with many of the region's
countries.
Another route to Spain consists of getting aboard a ''patera''
(kickboard), any precarious floatation device used by immigrants
from North Africa to reach the Iberian peninsula to avoid passing
through border check-points.
Illegal immigrants also enter Spain through one of its airports,
posing as tourists. But the air terminals, like Barajas in Madrid,
violate all international immigration treaties, asserts attorney
Jos‚ Antonio Moreno, spokesman for 'SOS Racismo,' a non-
governmental organisation (NGO).
At Barajas, officials conduct passport control inside the
aircraft, at the foot of the disembarkation stairs or on the
runway itself - all practices that are prohibited under
international law, said Moreno.
Administrative requirements also impose various obstacles for
immigrants, some of which are illegal, Moreno pointed out. But
civil society has mobilised in favour of immigrants through NGOs,
60 of which have repeatedly launched protests to demand more
humane treatment of people arriving from overseas.
Requiring potential immigrants to obtain a visa and a promise of
work before traveling to Spain would nullify most foreigners'
chances of gaining entry. The PP's strict measures come despite
the business community and trade union's complaints that Spain
lacks workers, especially in farming and construction sectors.
Obtaining a visa and work permit while still in one's country of
origin is unacceptable, asserted New Left party legislator Diego
L˘pez Garrido, one of the most outspoken critics of the PP's
proposals. ''The government response takes years, and it would
take a miracle to blindly be given a job,'' he added.
If the immigrant bill is left in limbo, the situation of
immigrants could grow decidedly worse.
Such is the case of a Nigerian woman, Amen Erhunmuwunse, who
Madrid's High Court had granted a residency permit in recognition
of the fact that she held a job and was married to a permanent
resident.
However, Madrid's police chief Julio Corrachano revoked
Erhunmuwunse's residency, stating she lacked a visa to enter the
country.
Erhunmuwunse presented a complaint against Corrochano in late
November for breach of trust and disobeying the law. The
deportation order emitted against her was suspended until the
trial's conclusion.
Some NGOs, like SOS Racismo, target immigrants to help them, or
solidarity work, like that of Roman Catholic priest Andr‚s
Avelino, who serves the parish of Algeciras, a port city on the
Andalucian coast of the Mediterranean Sea, across from Morocco.
The police keep their eye on Avelino because he is known to
provide shelter for many ''wetbacks'' (illegal immigrants) who
arrive and have no idea where to turn.
The government in C diz, another Andalucian port, also sanctioned
a woman, in September, Francisca Gil, for housing an illegal
immigrant. After being held overnight in jail, she was accused of
aiding illegal immigration, but the judge in the case absolved her
of the crime.
Gil, known as ''Paqui'' to her family and friends, admits she was
and is scared, but says she will continue helping immigrants. ''If
they fine me, bad luck, and if they arrest me, bad luck again,''
she stated.
In Spanish parliament Wednesday, as time ran out to present the
more than 100 amendments, the governing party resorted to
filibustering, which consists of paralysing debate using whatever
hair-splitting measures are available.
If the bill is not passed before this legislative session ends
Dec 23, the issue will have to start from zero under the new
parliament to be elected in March, on a date to be decided by the
Executive branch. (END/IPS/tra-so/af/dm/ld/99)
Origin: Montevideo/POPULATION-EUROPE/
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[c] 1999, InterPress Third World News Agency (IPS)
All rights reserved
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