Scores Held in French Migrant Raid

Elisabeth Shaver
9/25
12:43 pm


In the French port of Calais a police raid took place to clear out a camp known as the “jungle”. Hundreds of migrants, mostly Afghans were detained by French police. The police claim that this is not an operation targeting the migrants, but human traffickers who have been coming to the camp to try and exploit the migrants. Since the “jungle” was set up crime gangs frequented it and it was a “no-go” zone for locals. According to EU law, migrants must claim asylum in the first EU country they came into. Migrants are being detained to find out what EU country they first entered. Aid workers and advocates are trying to get the migrants asylum in France. The crackdown was done for the safety of the migrants, but aid workers say that raids like this one will just force migrants to off the radar, making it easier for traffickers to exploit them. The EU council has said that the migrants safety is their first priority. They will not be forced to return to their country of origin, but EU protocol must be followed.
This is a heart breaking story to me. Hundreds of migrants risked their lives to flee their countries seeking a new beginning. Most of them were minors. This is when human compassion and protocol clash. My heart says , “let them all go where ever they want to!” At the same time, I understand why protocols need to be followed. The EU can not condone illegal immigration, but at the same time, must provide a safe refuge for migrants.