Thread by @MigrantSecDef

How the European Union puts borders before lives. Refugees are the ones in need of protection, not EU’s borders. A thread on what you need to know about EU migration, their externalized borders, and overall complacency in upholding border imperialism #MigrationKorbelDU #Migration

Rhetoric in the news and media portrays #immigrants as a security threat, using words like “illegal” and “alien”. Harsh rhetoric has continued since the 2015 influx of migrants. Attitudes towards migrants and the security threat label is used as a justification for funding.

European Border and Coast Guard Agency @Frontex is the EU agency responsible for border control of the Schengen area. Funding for Frontex has raised from €143 million in 2015 to €543 million in 2021. Frontex has failed to protect the rights of migrants.
hrw.org/news/2021/06/2…

In the name of security and stability the EU continues to prioritize border enforcement. Over the last 10 years this has meant the creation of #externalborders in nations like Libya and Morocco where the EU directly funds operations that harm migrants
carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurop…

In an example of EU externalizing borders, the EU has channeled €455 million to Libya for tighter border controls, but @AP found that major sums of that aid ended up in the hands of militia members and human traffickers, funding #humanrightsabuses
apnews.com/article/united…

Similarly, Spain has pressured Morocco to strengthen its border control efforts in return for favorability with the EU. This has resulted in many displays of #excessiveforce, like the 2018 incident where Moroccan soldiers opened fire on a migrant boat
forbes.com/sites/anagarci…

Borders are also not always physical barriers migrants have to overcome. Migrants internalize borders through racial targeting, and the dehumanization process of being labeled #illegal, #aliens, and #undocumented. #Internalizedborders can stick with migrants for generations.

In 2015, the German Chancellor advocated for #Willkommenskultur while she opened doors to asylum seekers. As migrants arrived however, bigoted groups like the AfD gained popularity for their demonization of migrants, exacerbating #InternalizedBorders
thelocal.de/20200827/five-…

The EU's dehumanizing policies have made it near impossible for migrants to enter, nonetheless belong when they are accepted. By externalizing its borders and enabling #internalizedborders, Europe has made itself into a "fortress" of human rights abuses #EndBorderViolence

For a region that claims to value #humanrights, the EU has consistently and violently stripped migrants of their basic humanity in favor of their precious borders. Their hypocrisy and devaluing of human rights must be called out alongside demands for more humane practices.

@RebeccaGalemba