Illegal Immigration into Europe
America is not the only country faced with illegal immigration. The European Union has the same problem. Instead of mainly Hispanics as it is in the US, in Europe, the majority are a mix of Arab, Turk, and those from North African countries, such as, Libya, Tunisia , Egypt, Lebanon. Syria. The massive problem in some ways far worse. These people have many languages, dialects, customs, religions that simply add complexity.
In Germany and France, natives are also angry at job loss to illegals who work for far less because they must to survive. France has one of the largest Muslim populations many with extreme non-western beliefs and customs. Germany has one of the largest populations of Turkish immigrants, which live in Turkish slums and ghettos. The Germans, like the French, do not like them. Unlike America, the Euro countries refuse to cater to them. They must learn German or French, they must adopt their customs and ways of life also, in order to become permanent residents or citizens. There are few Turkish publications or broadcasts in Turkish in Germany, unlike in America, where a Hispanic, could in theory, survive not having to learn English because Spanish TV, radio and print exist. Also, if a child is born in these countries, it does not give them, or family, any residence or citizenship rights. Contrast that to America, where when one is born here, they are automatically a citizen, making it easier for family members to gain residence.
Illegal immigrants come to Europe from Libya, Tunisia and North Africa enter through Italy after a dangerous journey across the Mediterranean in small boats or hidden in cargo vessels. Those migrating from the Middle East enter through Greece. These people get into the EU by crossing the Evros River, which separates Greece from Turkey. This area is not well monitored and has many gaping holes. The EU has determined since 2011, illegal immigration has jumped 40%, causing many social and economic problems that are all very similar to America's illegal problems.
The illegals that enter via Greece or Italy continue moving to Germany or France, where the economic situation is far better. Italy and Spain are in dire straits and seek a bailout from Germany. In one respect, Europe's illegal issue is the same as America's: these people are fleeing a life that is substandard and seeking even a marginally better one. That is their primary motivation. The border is 128 miles long. All of it is river, except for a six mile stretch of land. In 2010 at least 26,000 crossed here. The EU has about 170 policemen there.
On average, 500 of them cross into Europe daily, and smugglers earn up to $10000 per person who reach the border to Europe. Athens has 100,000 illegals trapped for a variety reasons as getting across undetected is getting more difficult now that the EU is building a $4 million dollar state of the art fence (see map). Many illegals run out of money in Greece and are stranded in an economy with no jobs and collapsing.
