Foreign Affairs

Bans, Fines and Jail Time

This just in from SPIEGEL:

PURGATORY IN PROVINCIAL GERMANY

Life Behind Bars Drives Asylum Seekers to Desperation

Asylum seekers come to Germany hoping to find freedom and prosperity. Instead, they often end up in soul-destroying detention camps in the middle of nowhere, with nothing to do except wait to be deported. But the system suits many in Germany very well.
Photo Gallery: ‘Guantanamo’ in Provincial Germany

FRANCE:
According to Fragomen, an international law firm specializing in immigration,”a foreign national entering or living in France without complying with appropriate work and residency authorization is subject to imprisonment for up to one year and/or a fine of €3,750 ($5,227). He or she may also be prohibited from entering France for a maximum period of three years”
In addition, those who ASSIST illegal immigrants “are subject to a more severe punishment of imprisonment of up to five years and/or a fine up to €30,000 ($41,823).” France has been deadly serious about illegal immigration in recent years, drawing the ire of so-called Roma immigrants, also known as Gypsies. In 2009, 10,000 Roma were deported.

ITALY:
In 2010, Italy approved a tough set of laws to curb illegal immigration. Under the new laws, as the BBC reports, persons guilty of illegally entering the country can be fined up to €10,000 ($13,941) and detained for up to six months. Those who knowingly shelter illegal immigrants can face up to three years in prison. The law also empowers citizens’ patrols to police enrty zones. Finally, it requires parents to produce documents proving they are legal residents when registering the births of their children.

MEXICO:
Michael Waller of the Center for Security Policy reports that Mexico’s immigration laws are much stricter than U.S. laws. According to Waller, the Mexican constitution bans immigrants and foreign visitors from public descourse, bars immigrants and naturalized citizens from most public-service positions, authorises private citizens to ARREST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS and turn them over to authorities, and allows the government to expell immigrants for ANY REASON AND WITHOUT DUE PROCESS.
In addition, Waller report that foreigners are admitted only after PROVING THEY HAVE “THE NECESSARY FUNDS FOR THEIR SUSTENANCE” and only if their presence DOES NOT DISTURB “THE EQUALIBRIUM OF THE NATION DEMOGRAPHICS”.
According to Fragoman, “EMPLOYERS THAT VIOLATE MEXICAN IMMIGRATION LAWS ARE SUBJECT TO FINES UP TO 100 TIMES THE MINIMUM WAGE…FOREIGN NATIONALS WHO VIOLATE THE TERMS OF THEIR STAY IN MEXICO ARE SUBJECT TO DEPORTATION”.