The borders drift

While I'm moving in the time and space of Girasoli Onlus, I read this book brought from Marseille: «Mediterranean coast : the borders drift», from the Le passager clandestin. It focuses on maritime border and tries to explain why some places became emblematic of mediterranean migration.This is the case of Lampedusa for example, this small island in the south of Sicily quoted in texts, articles, books, shown in photo, video, film, used from one extreme to the other to defend any opinion on «the arrival of migrants» (I quote a first cover seen at the bookseller today). Others could be mentioned: Malta, Trapani, Messina, Pozzalo, Lesbos, Chios, …

According to the book, these places have not become unavoidable because they're on migratory roads. They became so because of European and national political decisions which chose to intensify the borders in southern Europe. The states took more and more control about humans movements: sorting and identification center, integration center, detention center (a whole bunch of places that give the right or not to: move, to (on)live, to plan, to evolve)… This is the “hotspots” strategy.

People arrested on the road or rescued at sea are necessarily brought to these places, creating consequent gatherings in small spaces and low population density, as in Lampedusa.Some of these repatriations are the occasion for well-known photos - boats full of people - and are used to scare: «it’s an invasion», «the arrivals are disproportionate», «they are unmanageable».

In these places, people wait. They wait a long time, or even a very long time, before decisions concerning them (transfers, authorisations, refusals, appeals, expulsions, etc.). Administrative deadlines are almost never met, and centers saturate, often creating animosity, violence, and discontent. Meanwhile, there are often families or friends already living in European cities who are also waiting.

« Why all this? Is this necessary? » Ebraima asked me today, eating pasta with tomato sauce from Graziana. « Why if you want to come to my home in Gambia, you can get a visa easily. While not me, to come to your country. In addition, we are accused of coming illegally, but explain to me how I can move myself differently ».

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« Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. »

« Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state. »

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 3 and 13 (1948).