Debate in Europe framing illegal immigration from the third world as a problem is "dangerous", the United Nations (UN) refugee chief has warned, insisting that the mass movement of peoples has been "a source of progress and prosperity since people first began to migrate"."Distorted" political debate on the subject has led to Europe becoming "obsessed" with a migrant crisis that "does not exist", Filippo Grandi said, urging EU politicians to stop squabbling "over a few boats" [of illegal immigrants].
In an interview published in the German press Thursday, he dismissed plans backed by Austria and Italy among other member states which would see asylum processing offshored and immigrants blocked from reaching European soil.
"As the United Nations High Commissioner [for refugees], I cannot support a proposal that would deprive people of the right to seek asylum in Europe. There are people who have very pressing reasons for asking for protection in EU nations."
Grandi denounced recent comments by Interior Minister Horst Seehofer branding the massive immigration influx which resulted from Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to open the border as having become "the of all problems"."Migration has been a source of progress and prosperity since people first began to migrate," claimed the Italian, stating that the tendency of politicians to frame the phenomena as a "major problem" was "unfortunate" because it boosts the argument of people opposed to mass, third world migration.
He said: "The constant problematisation of migration fuels an atmosphere of fear and sometimes even hostility, which is very dangerous and results in a vicious circle where the heated mood strengthens migration opponents, which in turn makes finding solutions [to illegal immigration by boat] difficult."
Grandi repeatedly insisted there was no migrant crisis in Europe, stressing that the number of people arriving has "fallen sharply". | http://bit.ly/2Dqd4M3
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