Illegal Immigration to the EU
America's border with Mexico is not the only porous border where illegals cross, the border between Turkey and Greece is equally porous where last year over 150,000 illegals crossed making their way into the EU via Italy. The bulk of them are young men and women fleeing horrible conditions in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Syria, Tunisa, Algeria and Morocco. Since Greece is part of the Schengen Zone, which allows for free travel within the EU, once the illegal obtains the EU passport, they are in and can travel unhindered.
So, many have crossed the Turk-Greek border near Erdine, and it is like a tsunami or an open door. It is an area of 80 miles and border is defined by the Evros River with few border guards. Many illegals arrive by boat at Patras and then onto Italy. Crossing the Evros is simply not getting in a boat, well it is, but the river is wide and rough. Most illegals pay $1900 to get a safe boat ride across. Just because you get across does not mean you evade authorities, many are caught. Once caught, they stay in overcrowded ill equipped camps and released to return to their country. They are deported only if they are in Greece for more than 30 days. Many illegals do not go back but try to sneak into Italy.
The problem is huge for the EU. Last year, over 350,000 were living in the EU illegally and had overstayed their visa. Those from Bangladesh can take two months travel by car, bus and boat and cost $7000 to smugglers. Upon arriving in Greece, they find the situation deplorable with no jobs and reside in abandoned factories. One smuggler indicated the Syrians are the richest illegals who pay $10,000 to reach the EU. The smuggler makes a fake EU passport for $5000 and $1700 to cross the Evros River. Obviously, it is big business. The smuggling trade is a whopping 25 billion euro business.
It's good to know America is not the only problem with illegals.