Transcript Document

Smuggling of Migrants from India to
Europe and in particular to the UK: A
Study on Punjab & Haryana
K. C. Saha, IAS
Development Commissioner, Government of Bihar
11 March 2010, Chandigarh
Case Study from Punjab/Haryana (Methodology)
• Analysis of over 800 immigration-offence-related records for
2005, 2006 & 2007
• Police cases recorded against agents in different police
stations in Punjab
• Interviews with deportees and/or their family members
• Interviews with agents as well as police officers who
investigated these cases against the agents
• Interviews with co-villagers/public representatives in more
than 30 villages
• Case studies on irregular migration through investigators
• Study visit to the UK and France
FINDINGS:
1. Trends and volume of irregular migration
2. Identification of areas prone to irregular migration
3. Profile of irregular migrants, reasons for irregular migration and
destination countries
4. Profile of agents, sub-agents and their modus operandi
1. Trends and volume of irregular migration
• Over 20,000 youths from Punjab attempt irregular migration
every year.
• It has not only spread to new areas in Punjab but also to the
neighbouring states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and
Jammu & Kashmir
• In the past, irregular migration was confined to few caste
groups, now it has spread to other caste groups also
• Almost half (47%) of the cases of irregular migration relate to
destination countries in Europe
FINDINGS:
1. Trends and volume of irregular migration
2. Identification of areas prone to irregular migration
3. Profile of irregular migrants, reasons for irregular migration and
destination countries
4. Profile of agents, sub-agents and their modus operandi
Map of Punjab
Emerging
High
Map of Haryana
Emerging
High
FINDINGS:
1. Trends and volume of irregular migration
2. Identification of areas prone to irregular migration
3. Profile of irregular migrants, reasons for irregular migration and
destination countries
4. Profile of agents, sub-agents and their modus operandi
3. Profile of irregular migrants
• 84% of irregular migrants are from rural areas
• Youths were mostly from agricultural families who can
afford high cost of irregular migration
• More than 90% irregular migrants are males
• About 55% of irregular migrants are in the age group of
21-30
• A substantial number of irregular migrants are also in the
age group of 31-40
• Irregular migrants are noted to have poor educational
attainment
Reasons for irregular migration
• High unemployment rate
• General attitude of youth that migration to the other countries is the best
alternative
• Potential irregular migrants consider other successful migrants as their
role models
• Irregular migration not at all a stigma amongst families
• Once a family is able to send someone abroad legally or illegally, family
status increases
• Social networks promote chain migration
• Perception amongst migrants that once one is able to reach a destination
country, chances of getting caught and deported is remote.
Destination countries
• Destination countries are varied. Irregular migrants have attempted to go
to 57 destination countries.
• Belgium is also a destination country for irregular migrants, however, in
Europe the UK is the most favoured destination
• A substantial number of cases of irregular migration to Italy, France and
Spain were noted.
FINDINGS:
1. Trends and volume of irregular migration
2. Identification of areas prone to irregular migration
3. Profile of irregular migrants, reasons for irregular migration and
destination countries
4. Profile of agents, sub-agents and their modus operandi
4. Profile of agents and sub-agents
• Proliferation of agents in Punjab due to high demand of their services
• Many of the agents in Punjab are actually sub-agents of principal agents
based in cities in Punjab and also Delhi
• A substantial number of agents were in the age group of 21-25. They are
the new entrants in the business.
• Agents in Punjab were found to work in groups with well established links
with agents in Delhi
• Carrier agents accompanied irregular migrants in many cases. Some of the
carrier agents were females who accompanied minor children
Modus operandi of agents
1.
2.
3.
4.
Jacket substitution of passports, photo substitution, fake
foreign visas, re-stitched passports, forged passports,
forged residence permits, exchange of boarding cards in
security areas, forging of POE stamp etc
Forged visas of 41 countries had been used. Many instances
of forged visas for Italy, Greece, France, Spain and the UK
were noted.
Many instances of forged residence permits of Portugal,
Spain, Italy and the UK were noted.
Agents made use of various transit countries to take
migrants legally to the transit countries before their
irregular migration.
Modus operandi of agents (part 2)
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Agents have used various routes some of which are
traditional whereas the others are emerging routes
Routes via a country in Central Asia or a country in West
and North Africa are emerging routes
Fees for USA and Canada was much higher than any
country in Europe. It was more than US$ 50,000. For
destination to the UK the fees were higher compared to the
other countries in Europe.
Agents have become highly professional and they operate
through well-knit networks.
Services of agents are utilized even by public
representatives and other responsible citizens
Recommendations:
1. Independent legislation to check migrant
smuggling
2. Specialized counter smuggling law enforcement
units
3. Database on smuggling
4. Training and capacity building of law enforcement
machinery
5. Awareness campaigns in identified areas
6. Regional focus on irregular migration from South
Asia
7. Close cooperation between countries of source,
transit and destination
Thank you
www.unodc.org/southasia