Perusuomalaiset (PS)* Interior Minister Mari Rantanen held a press conference today and outlined how the present government is going to tighten migration policy. There was nothing new in what Rantanen said. We know about plans to tighten the citizenship law, family reunification, speed up deportations, and making it harder to get a residence permit. All of these measures begged for a question: Why?
Finland is already suffering from an unprecedented demographic crisis that has hit its economy hard. So many people are retiring that the country cannot plug such a shortage. An article in Helsingin Sanomat, predicted that the drop in people of Finnish origin would plummet to just above one million in 90 years from 5.6 million now.
In bravado fashion, the PS states: “If you don’t have a residence permit, the starting point is that you will return to your country or will be forced to return.” A statement like this is like a shot in the leg. Thank you Rantanen and the whole PS and National Coalition Party gang in government for bringing Finns closer to extinctionand further economic decline.
As our migration policy speeds up the process of becoming extinct or a country with a tiny population, the PS and the National Coalition Party can rejoice that at least those that are being extinct are white Finns.
Why doesn’t the media and politicians say it out loud: The reason for our economy tanking is the lack of foreign labor.
Statements by the government and xenophobes like Rantanen are the real culprits for our demographic and economic problems and demise.
Migrant Tales view: Like a furious one-two punch, thanks to two reports, Europe and especially Finland continue to see a rise of racism with near-silence and little outrage. Could we call it the Frontex syndrome? We are aware of the problem, but we turn a blind eye because we don’t really care or want to be bothered. Finland’s hostile government to immigrants, comprising the National Coalition Party, Perussuomalaiset*, Swedish People’s Party and Christian Democrats, is the least apt to tackle the social ill. Matters can only get worse from here.
In the suspected hate crime report for 2022, the number of suspected hate crimes reported to the police in 2022 rose by 21.3% to 1,245 cases from 1,026 in the previous year. The lion’s share of hate crimes was due to ethnic and national background (74.7%), up by 31.7% to 930 from 706, and religion and belief (9.7%), down to 121 from 133.
Sexual orientation accounted for 8.7% of all suspected hate crimes, rising 11.1% to 140 with disability falling 11.5% to 54 cases.
The Police University College said that those with Russian citizenship experienced the highest frequency of crimes concerning national background. Even so, Somalis and Iraqis continue to rank high in suspected hate-crime statistics. Eleven percent of all offenses were directed at the Romany minority.
Concerning religion or belief, the most common victims, as in previous years, were Muslims.
Being Black in the EU
Like the 2018 report, the latest FRA report continue to offer bad news for countries like Finland, Germany, and Austria, which reported the highest prevalence of racial harassment in the past 12 months by people of African descent (PAD).
According to media reports, Finland is on the verge of forming its most right-wing and anti-immigration government, which is proposing a requirement for migrants seeking Finnish citizenship to earn an annual income of 40,000 euros.
CORRECTION: The media, which reported earlier that the new government plans to place a 40,000-euro annual salary threshold to qualify for citizenship, is wrong.
The National Coalition Party (NCP), Christian Democrats, and possibly the Swedish People’s Party today will give the nod to stricter immigration policies that would force residents to earn an average salary of 40,000 euros per year.
However, it is worth noting that foreigners in Finland typically earn about 20% less than Finns, as indicated by statistical data. If this new government implements such a minimum income threshold, it would effectively exclude many foreigners in Finland from obtaining citizenship.
What do you do when you make citizenship more difficult? For one, parties such as the Perussuomalaiset,* NCP, Christian Democrats, and very likely the Swedish People’s Party are apprehensive about granting citizenship to foreigners because it would grant voting rights to these people and voters against such parties.
Many parties in Finland are misguided believing there is a mad rush to move to Finland.
Implementing these stricter regulations will only make Finland even less appealing to foreign labor. It will exacerbate the existing problem of sourcing foreign labor.
On Monday, we saw the stances of the radical-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* and National Coalition Party’s (Kokoomus) views on the role of labor immigration outside the EU. On MTV, PS’ Sakari Puisto faced off with Pia Kauma of Kokoomus, while on A-studio, Leena Meri of the PS debated with Elina Valtonen.
It is depressing to watch the debate about Finland’s need to attract labor migrants from outside the EU. The adjectives used to describe them are insulting: social welfare migrants and low-income migrants who will accept low pay and any work offered.
It is a bad standing point: Why would I want to come to a country that wishes me so much harm and intends to relegate me to second-class and marginal status?
The most surreal debate between the two shows was on MTV.
While there was a difference of opinion on labor migrants between Puisto and Kauma, both favored limiting or excluding newcomers from getting social welfare.
The debate between PS MP Sakari Puisto and Pia Kauma was surreal. Puisto spoke against migrants from outside the EU, and Kauma who is in favor. Both were, however, of the same opinion about the social equality of such migrants. Both would take away their rights, so they can’t use social welfare. Would I move to a country that sees me as a second-class member of society? Source: MTV
When such a suggestion was made, the host didn’t even bother to ask if excluding non-citizens from getting social welfare was unconstitutional, which it is.
Kauma strongly criticized PS leader Riikka Purra’s statements against labor immigration outside the EU.
Contrary to the last three parliamentary elections in 2011, 2015, and 2019, the upcoming parliamentary election on April 2 is different for several reasons: war rages in the Ukeraine, Finland has sought Nato membership, economic growth, and chronic labor shortages are just a few.
Apart from labeling people from outside the EU as “harmful” migrants, the radical right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* attempts to argue with several CEOs of Finnish companies that rely on foreign workers that the party has nothing against qualified immigrants but is against what it labels “social welfare” immigrants.
“Finland is not very successful in attracting immigration that is economically beneficial, but it receives a lot of immigration that is economically detrimental,” Riikka Purra, the head of the PS, was quoted as saying in Kauppalehti, adding that she is against what she calls “social welfare” migrants.
Purra’s argument reminds me of a story I published in Savon Sanomat in 2012.
Back then, I wrote in the English version of the story that anti-immigration groups were using the same arguments. It’s like eating and having your cake at the same time while you put a picture of Sleeping Beauty and Prince Charming.
The PS has viciously labeled some migrants in Finland as “harmful” and “social welfare” recipients. They will tell you with a poker face that as long as the newcomer is a “super” migrant, things are ok.
Who are the so-called super migrants that some wish for in Finland?
Separation or divorce from a partner can be an especially trying matter in Finland if you are a foreigner and a man. We have learned of a new case that was brought to our attention.
This is how it usually how events pan out: A foreigner gets married to a Finnish woman, they have a child and then divorce. The man does not get a residence permit. He is forced to leave the country or get deported.
Below is a decision in 2018 by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) to reject Abul’s* residence permit on family grounds.
Ardian* is a 24-year-old Albanian who moved to Finland a bit over three years ago. He came to Finland to find work. He met a Russian woman, got married, had a child, and separated.
“I have been waiting for three years to get my residence permit,” he said. “Even if I have a child in Finland, Migri, has turned down my requests.”
He said that he is appealing Migri’s decision in court and expects a decision soon, probably in April.
Ardian,* who lives in Vantaa, said that he has always worked (today in construction) in Finland, paid taxes and never asked for a cent of social welfare.
He said that he even moved to a construction site in Kittlä in Lapland and works today on top of a 39-meter tower. He said that if he refused to work in such high places, his boss would fire him.
Ardian claims that foreign construction workers do work that Finns would not normally do.
Since he does not have a residence permit, he can work legally but does not have any rights from Kela (Social Insurance Institution of Finland), even if given sick leave.
“I once fractured two fingers at work and the doctor gave me two-month sick leave,” he said. “I had to return back to work and could not stay at home because I wasn’t making any money. Kela refused to pay me any support.”
Apart from working with few rights, his daughter is one of the main reasons he wants to remain in Finland.
“It’s so unjust! If I could, I’d ask the Finnish authorities why I am being treated in this way,” Ardian continued. “I have a daughter, which I love very much but am not allowed to see. Don’t I have a right to stay in this country?”
Ardian cited “differences in lifestyle” for his divorce with his wife.
“My ex-wife wanted us to live off Kela but I refused to,” he said without providing any further explanation.
Ardian said that returning to Albania was not an option for him.
“That whole country is so corrupt and there is a lot of crime there,” he concluded. “I cannot also go back because my daughter is here. She loves me very much.”
* The name of the person was changed to protect his identity.
Migrant Tales insight: Daniel Malpica is an artist who, like many, has been wronged by the Finnish Immigration “Service.” Malpica is an old friend of this blog. Below are some of his earlier writings:
After Migrant Tales broke the story of Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) asked a divorced Moroccan to leave Finland with a heart condition. Youssef Hemdani’s case has received a lot of support from Morocco and Finland.
“Thank you for your support,” said his brother, Laghdof Hemdari.
Apart from getting a lot of attention on social media, Hemdani has received visits and concern from the Moroccan ambassador to Finland, Mohamed Achgalou, and from Social Democrat MP Hussein al-Taee as well as from Left Alliance Helsinki city councilor, Suldaan Said Ahmed.
There are plans as well to appeal to the district cout Migri’s decision.
Youssef Hamdani has been hospitalized for three months.
Hemdani’s heart condition is serious. The 32-year-old suffers from an enlarged heart and cardiac insufficiency, according to a medical report.
Youssef Hemdani is diagnosed with an enlarged heart and cardiac insufficiency.
Laghdof Hemdari said that so far, there is no pledge from the hospital that his brother will be operated as promised before Migri decided to revoke his residence permit.
“There is no treatment for my brother’s condition in Morocco,” he said. “He isn’t well. Some days he’s better and other days are worse. Sometimes he cannot eat because he feels the food chokes him.”
Youssef Hemdani, a 32-year-old Moroccan national, received a visit on Friday from the police at the hospital where he’s been interned for about three months due to a heart condition. The police told him that he has 30 days to leave the country.
According to a hospital diagnosis, Hemdani suffers from an enlarged heart (dilatoiva kardiomyopetia) and cardiac insufficiency.
Hemdani’s diagnosis and condition, according to his medical report.He suffers from an enlarged heart and cardiac insufficiency.
The decision to not renew Hemdani’s residence permit, after living four years in Finland, was apparently made after he divorced his wife a year go.
They have no children.
The police gave him the following reason why he had to leave Finland: “The Finnish Immigration Service cancels the residence permit, because the grounds on which your residence permit was granted no longer exist
In protest, Hemdani decided to go on a hunger strike from Wednesday evening but his brother Laghdof Hemdari talked him out it on Thursday.
“Before the cancellation of the residence permit, the hospital said that they would operate,” said his brother, who lives in Spain. “This is what we want to find out [why they now changed their minds about the operation]. This is not humanity. This is not Finland.”
Hamdani has been interned in the hospital for about three months due to a heart condition.The official document from the police states: “The Finnish Immigration Service cancels the residence permit, because the grounds on which your residence permit was granted no longer exist.
Migrant Tales will follow Hemdani’s case and write updates.
TweetAs I plan a beautiful summer filled with fun with my family, my heart is heavy knowing that there are hundreds of immigrant children from Latin America who are locked up in modern day concentration camps–U.S. detention centers. These children are waking up on concrete floors, do not have access to toothbrushes, or soap, and most importantly, do not know when or if, they will ever see their families again. They are suffering both physical harm leading to deaths under our government’s watch and great psychological abuse that will create long-lasting trauma for them.
On June 21, 2019 the PBS News Hour reported on the horrible conditions
in one of these detention centers in Clint, Texas where some of these
immigrant Latino children from toddlers to teenagers were being held
until yesterday when they were quickly relocated to another detention
center. They lacked basic needs such as food, water, or proper
sanitation. Willamette University law professor Warren Binford was
interviewed by the News Hour after visiting the facility. She states:
Basically, what we saw are dirty children who are
malnourished, who are being severely neglected. They are being kept in
inhumane conditions. They are essentially being warehoused, as many as
300 children in a cell, with almost no adult supervision….We’re seeing a
flu outbreak, and we’re also seeing a lice infestation. It is — we have
children sleeping on the floor. It’s the worst conditions I have ever
witnessed in several years of doing these inspections.
Under these horrific and inhumane conditions, it should come as no surprise that children are dying under our government’s care.
President Trump’s racialized immigration policy is killing immigrant Latino children. Six migrant children have died in U.S. custody between September 2018 to May 2019 for the first time in a decade.
The recent origins of this situation began last April when more than
2600 undocumented children were separated from their parents at the U.S.
border and locked up in detention centers that were not designed to
house children under Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy. Child separations
and detention is an example of the kind of tragic policy Bill Hong Hing argues brings shame to us as a nation and violates our constitutional rights. Hing states:
The age of hysteria over immigration in which we live
leads to tragic policies that challenge us as a moral society. Policies
that are unnecessarily harsh—that show a dehumanizing side of our
character—are senseless. They bring shame to us as a civil society.”
(2006: p. 7).
The Trump administration argued in court this week that
detained migrant children do not require basic hygiene products (like
soap and toothbrushes) to be held in “safe and sanitary” conditions.
Lawyers who recently interviewed detained children report that kids are
living in “traumatic and dangerous” conditions – insufficient food and
water, going weeks without bathing, kids as young as 7 years old being
told to care for the babies and toddlers.
While most of the children from the Clint, Texas facility have now
been moved to another detention center since the story broke, the larger
problem is the underlying policy that allows for children to continue to be locked up and separated from their families. Taking them to another detention center doesn’t solve this larger policy issue, or remove the suffering these policy create.
This Administration’s cruel policy is exactly the kind of policy the
President likes. Why? Because it serves his ends and displays his bully
power over the most powerless. President Trump targets the vulnerable in
order to please his white base, and immigrant children from Latin
America are among the most vulnerable. It is a politically calculated
strategy designed to gain emotional support from an anti-immigrant, and
often, racist base.
Many of the greatest problems facing the Latinos stem from the
consequences of the racism we have experienced in this country because
of the still dominant white racial frame.
Caging and abusing innocent Latino toddlers and children could only
happen after centuries of the dehumanization of Latinos, who are
situated within a systematic racialization of people of color in the
United States. As Feagin and Cobas
argue, Latinos have been and continue to exist within a particular
racial frame, as part of a white-imposed “hierarchy of racialized groups
in this country” (2014: p. 48). Their analysis traces the subordination
of Latinos through the white racial frame, which has resulted in
discriminatory actions towards them by racist whites and in continued
race-based exclusion at all levels of society. They state:
For more than a century and a half, Latino groups’
positioning on this society’s racial ladder has been a powerful
determinant of their members’ racialized treatment, socioeconomic
opportunities, and access to various types of social capital (2014: p.
15).
It is in this context that this appalling abuse of immigrant Latino
children can take place without massive large scale civil unrest by
Americans throughout the nation. While there have been and are some
protests developing across the globe such as the upcoming one on July
12, 2019 by the Lights for Liberty,
can we imagine the continued national uproar that would occur if these
children were Swedish immigrants being locked up in cages, denied beds,
adequate food, water, and sanitation resulting in some of them dying? If
it were Swedish immigrant children being treated the way Latino
immigrant children are then more people would be protesting in the
streets. This abuse will go down in history among the worst atrocities
committed by the U.S. government towards people of color along with the
taking of Native American children from their families, the terror of
Jim Crow, or the Japanese Internment.
Donald Trump’s framing of immigrants from Latin America immigrants as
“criminals” and “rapists ” proved so successful to his election to the
presidency in 2016, that we should be prepared for more of what
political scientist Peter Andreas calls “performative art” as the 2020
election season intensifies. And the paint is going to continue to be
the blood of immigrant children.
How can we continue to dehumanize children to the point where
separating them from their families and holding them in these conditions
becomes our public policy? Why aren’t the Democrats calling out how
this Administration’s policies are killing children? Why aren’t we
insisting Congress pass comprehensive immigration reform? Why is there
not greater large scale civil unrest to this situation? Why aren’t we
all calling out how President Trump’s policies are killing immigrant
Latino children?
As we plan for our children’s summer of fun, we should all remember there are Latino immigrant children who are interned in modern day concentration camps–alone, scared, in metal cages, and without adequate nutrition, hygiene, or medical care. They are children, just like our children. Our government and our president are treating them WORSE than animals. There are animal cruelty laws that exist that prohibit people from leaving dogs unattended in inhumane conditions. These immigrant Latino children are receiving no such protections. The contrast between our healthy kids’ lives and the lives of these Latino immigrant children is truly heartbreaking.
