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| ‘Why is no one talking about this?’ Big business fuels EU refugee influx, filmmaker tells RT | ‘Why is no one talking about this?’ Big business fuels EU refugee influx, filmmaker tells RT |
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| A well-organized criminal syndicate that uses bribes and false promises is responsible for the nearly 60,000 African migrants who arrived in Spain last year, filmmaker Lauren Southern told RT. | |
| Southern’s latest documentary, ‘Borderless,’ features a rare interview with a human trafficker who helps ferry migrants from Morocco to Spain. The man explained that each client pays between €2,000 ($2,248) and €4,000 ($4,495) for the trip – a business model which Southern described as incredibly lucrative. | Southern’s latest documentary, ‘Borderless,’ features a rare interview with a human trafficker who helps ferry migrants from Morocco to Spain. The man explained that each client pays between €2,000 ($2,248) and €4,000 ($4,495) for the trip – a business model which Southern described as incredibly lucrative. |
| The filmmaker revealed to RT that she was told “multiple times” by people on the ground that smugglers bribe members of the Moroccan Coast Guard in order to ensure that certain waterways remain unpatrolled. The sophisticated smuggling operation clashes with what is often portrayed as a purely humanitarian crisis, Southern argued. | The filmmaker revealed to RT that she was told “multiple times” by people on the ground that smugglers bribe members of the Moroccan Coast Guard in order to ensure that certain waterways remain unpatrolled. The sophisticated smuggling operation clashes with what is often portrayed as a purely humanitarian crisis, Southern argued. |
| While Southern casts doubt over whether most African migrants could be considered legitimate asylum seekers, she said that in some respects, they are still victims. Those who attempt the perilous journey to Spain are often fed false promises of European citizenship and a good job by opportunistic smugglers, she noted. To make matters worse, the smugglers encourage their clients to destroy their passports before arriving in Spain – making them essentially non-persons in the eyes of the EU, thus making proper integration virtually impossible. | While Southern casts doubt over whether most African migrants could be considered legitimate asylum seekers, she said that in some respects, they are still victims. Those who attempt the perilous journey to Spain are often fed false promises of European citizenship and a good job by opportunistic smugglers, she noted. To make matters worse, the smugglers encourage their clients to destroy their passports before arriving in Spain – making them essentially non-persons in the eyes of the EU, thus making proper integration virtually impossible. |
| “They are not looking to help people,” Southern said of the smugglers. She added that she doesn’t foresee the traffickers slowing down any time soon. In 2018 alone, nearly 60,000 migrants crossed into Spain by sea – a record year. | “They are not looking to help people,” Southern said of the smugglers. She added that she doesn’t foresee the traffickers slowing down any time soon. In 2018 alone, nearly 60,000 migrants crossed into Spain by sea – a record year. |
| Southern, a Canadian-born filmmaker and journalist, has generated considerable controversy with her work and activism. Often labeled as far-right, her critics have accused her of Islamophobic fearmongering. Last year, she was briefly detained by the British authorities – for distributing “racist material” – and was barred from entering the country. | Southern, a Canadian-born filmmaker and journalist, has generated considerable controversy with her work and activism. Often labeled as far-right, her critics have accused her of Islamophobic fearmongering. Last year, she was briefly detained by the British authorities – for distributing “racist material” – and was barred from entering the country. |
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