Irregular and illegal migration has emerged as a major international challenge, as has the refugee situation. The UN has estimated that there are 120 million people living and working outside their country of nationality, up from 50 million in 1989. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 1998 estimate of world refugee numbers was 11.5 million, within a 'population of concern' of 21.5 million17, a possible total of 150 millions.
The need for individuals and families to move from a poor and strife-torn country has intensified during the past decade. Over the same period, opportunities for legal entry, even to traditional immigration countries, have diminished. UNHCR has estimated that the international people smuggling industry is currently worth over $US11 billion; that one in 3 people who have moved to Western Europe, and one in 4 to the USA in recent years are assessed as having done so illegally, or as asylum seekers. Illegal migration within the Asia Pacific is a large problem, a problem that continues to grow. As more areas of the world become less stable and more violent, the attractions of our region become greater for families seeking security, peace, and stability. In common with most so-called "western nations" New Zealand and Australia have immigration policies based on individual skills, family ties, and so.
The most recent arrivals in New Zealand and Australia have come from southern provinces of China, South Asia (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh) and the Middle East (Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan), often via Indonesia. Some come by scheduled transport and bypass immigration, some are smuggled in, some arrive as tourists then stay and work illegally. Australia has experienced illegal immigrants arriving by boat - commonly called "boat people", many claiming refugee status under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, some of these have a stated final destination of New Zealand.
Given the level of sophistication of illegally organised people movements, involving high quality forged documents, and the high volume of traffic through regional airports; it is probable that most illegal migrants are entering New Zealand and Australia by air. These "illegals" are particularly vulnerable to exploitation by local employers, or those who have organised their entry. Trends emerging among some ethnic groups recently arrived are marginalisation, and involvement in criminal activities, such as the sex and narcotics industries. The potential for entry into regional states by international criminals or terrorists using existing illegal migrant networks and forged or stolen travel documents is high.
Page précédente | Sommaire | Page suivante
17 Quoted in: Parliamentary Library of Australia, Current Briefing 13, Boat People, Illegal
Migration and Asylum Seekers: in Perspective, Adrienne Millbank, Social Policy Group, 14
December 1999