A- Z beginnings
From Noborders Network Wiki
Here is a list of words for the A-Z of No Borders idea that came out of the Newcastle gathering. I propose a short, 100 word ish definition. we could then make links between words?
I saw an a-z of climate change and capitalism the other day (will try and post, only got as a hard copy now) that inspired me and i thought this could be something we should be able to get done easily by gathering.
Contents |
INTRODUCTION
Borders, migration and refugee issues are a complex world or organisations, companies, government agencies and acronyms. This is no accident but is part of a plan to confuse and divide us. This A-Z guide is not only to explain some of these terms in simple language but also to give a taste of the huge range of resistance and campaigns that exist to get involved with.
INFORMATION FOR ACTION
A
Asylum seeker - A person who is seeking to be recognised as a refugee is an asylum seeker. They must prove that;
Owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of their nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail him/herself of the protection of that country. (1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees)
In other words a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution. Refugees have been given legal permission to stay, whereas asylum seekers are in the, often very long, process of trying to prove they have the right to stay.
Ama Sumani - died after being deported from hospital in Cardiff during treatment for myeloma, a cancer affecting the bone marrow. The Home Office sent her to Ghana, knowing treatment was unavailable there.
Amnesties - an amnesty refers to the regularisation of those who are in the country 'illegally'. A number of human rights organisations and politicians - even Boris Johnson - have campaigned for amnesties. They can indeed make life a lot more easier for regularised migrants. However, in reality they often come with unwanted side-effects, such as increased pressure on those not granted them. Amnesties are also concessions by the state, usually to the benefit of the national economy or labour markets, rather than based on absolute rights.
Anarchism - a political philosophy and practice that holds that society can and should be organised by free agreements between people in the absence of government, imposed or otherwise. It has been argued the the No Borders position, which sees the freedom of movement for all necessitates the end of the so-called 'nation state', and is therefore an explicitly anarchist position (though it should be noted that not all No Borders activists are anarchists).
Angel Group - The Angel Group is a corporate housing provider contracted by the Home Office to house refugees in Birmingham, Leeds and other places. It has become the target of campaigns by No Borders groups for profiting from housing refugees in squalid over-crowded conditions, reportedly without gas and electricity.
Anti-Semitism - a term coined in the late 1800s to specifically describe racism against Jews. Anti-Semitism is much older than that, but modern Anti-Semitism has led to the targeting of Jews, not as inferior or essentially different, but rather as all-powerful and conspiring, secretly pulling the strings behind the media, government and the economy. As such Anti-Semites often blame Jews for economic downturns and crises.
Arms - Britain is now the world’s largest arms exporter; responsible for one third of the world’s arms exports. According to UN figures, Britain exports hundreds of thousands of guns every year. These weapons are sold to repressive regimes and war zones, fuelling conflict around the world. Guns from one Nottingham based company Heckler and Koch have been used in the Democratic Republic of Congo, by the Georgian army in South Ossetia, by the Janjaweed militia in Darfur and by mercenaries in Iraq. Millions of people are forced to flee their homes to escape these wars. According to the UN, "Armed conflict is now the driving force behind most refugee flows... Refugee movements are no longer side effects of conflict, but in many cases are central to the objectives and tactics of war." Ten of thousands of refugees who flee to the UK are refused entry or locked up and deported to countries that the UK Foreign Office considers dangerous, including Iraq, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (all countries in which H&K guns have been used). In short, the policies of successive UK governments have on one hand contributed to suffering on a global scale, and on the other hand refused to take responsibility for the consequences. It is time to expose and confront this vicious circle.
Artificial - a look at a world map shows how borders have been drawn and redrawn according to the interests of those in control. Colonialism, control of natural resources and economic power are just some of the factors influencing where borders have been created. Borders are seen as 'natural', as fixed and rigid, but in reality they shift with political and economic changes. [could go in category on borders?]
Anti-Authoritarian -
Anti-Capitalist - Most people in the No Borders network would describe their politics as 'anti-capitalist'. This is not a dogmatic position based on the study of Marx's and Engels' complete works, but a practical starting point from where we discuss solidarity with international workers' movements, criticism of globalisation processes or the causes of wars, poverty and environmental distruction.
Autonomous movements - within the international No Borders network some have made the argument that the act of migration itself should be understood as an autonomous social movement. Those who advocate this position point to the inadequacy of the 'Fortress Europe' metaphor, which creates the perception of an impenetrable border regime. However, migrants do manage to enter Europe every day in multiple ways. Arguably, this should also dispel the perception of migrants as victims and instead show them as creators of their own fortune.
Appeal - people who have been refused asylum can appeal against the decision. Many win on appeal, in recognition of the fact that a large proportion of asylum claims are not properly heard or considered by the government. In 2006, for example, 47% of Somalis, 44% of Eritreans and 41% of Zimbabweans who appealed had their refusals overturned. [see Legal Aid] [1]
B
Border and Immigration Agency - see UKBA
"Babi Badalov" - A homosexual artist from Azerbaijan who sought asylum in the UK, getting involved with No Borders South Wales before being deported on a BMI flight.
Balanced Migration - usually a euphemism for a call for stricter immigration controls. Advocated by Frank Field and has since become a much-used term by anti-immigration pressure groups.
BMI - An airline responsible for carrying migrants (including Babi Badalov)who are being deported from the UK against their will by the British Government. The subject of a campaign initiated by No Borders South Wales, the twentieth of each month is 'Shut Down BMI day', when various actions take place. [See also Deportation, XL Airlines]
Borders - Boundaries enforced and defended by the rulers of nation states to define the part of the world they claim as 'theirs'. Used selectively to include and exclude, the movement of people across borders is regulated and controlled, while capital can flow freely. The border can be seen at work at entry points, but also through detention of migrants, document checks in workplaces, dawn raids on homes, and in the divisions that have been created between people.
Brook House - the second IRC to be built on British Airports Authority land at Gatwick Airport. (see: Tinsley House) Part of the massive expansion of the detention estate announced by the UK Borders Agency in early 2007, the 430 bed-capacity centre opened in 18th March 2009 and is run by GSL. (see also: Gatwick)
Byrne, Liam - minister for immigration (2006 - 2008). Was responsible for a major restructuring of the immigration system in Britain, including the introduction of the 'points-based system'.
C
Calais - Calais is a zone of non-rights, where British border controls have been extended to France [see 'offshore border controls'], and the French and UK governments have joined forces. The situation for migrants trying to enter the UK is horrific. Around 800 people live in makeshift camps (known colloquially as "Jungles") around the town where brutal repression of migrants is increasing. UK and French groups are working together in solidarity with migrants in Calais... [see also Sangatte]
Capitalism - (a 100 word definition of capitalism? you must be joking!) The 'capitalist mode of production', or capitalism, is a system of indirect exploitation of people's creativity for the sake of profit and the increase of capital. Other forms of domination - feudalism or slavery, say - were direct in that the serf or slave was forced to work for the lord or master. In capitalist society we are forced only indirectly in the sense that if we don't work, we don't eat (well). No Borders imagines a society free of direct and indirect coercion.
Categorisation - Many categories have been created to classify, define and label people who move: “asylum seekers”, “refugees”, “internally displaced”, “victims of trafficking”, “economic migrants”, “immigrants”… “tourists”, “ex-pats” . Putting people in boxes in this way hides the wide range of circumstances which lead individuals to move, and affects the way people who move are viewed – “desirable”/“undesirable” "deserving"/"undeserving", "citizens"/"non-citizens". The way people are labelled reflects the interests of the privileged. Categorisation can be seen as a method of control designed to create divisions, to confine people, and to limit the possibilities open to them.
CAIC - The Campaign Against Immigration Controls is a new coalition that brings together trade unions, community organisations and activists to respond to new legislation that brings immigration controls into the workplace. It encourages campaigns and direct action to build resistance to immigration controls.
Corporations -
Crossing Borders – transnational newsletter Crossing Borders is an initiative of Frassanito network that aims to foster migration-related networking and practical struggles.
Cultures - cultures are not static, monolithic things, but are contested and dynamic processes of identification which are constantly in flux. The 'British/English culture' is not under threat - it is simply changing, as it always has. Preserving the 'British culture' - or indeed any other one - would thus mean 'freezing' a historical process at a certain moment in time in order to 'stabilise' society.
D
Detention centre - (also known as Immigration Removal Centres [IRCs]) Thousands of migrants, including children, are locked up in special prisons, disguised under various names, for committing the 'crime' of fleeing wars or persecution or wanting to improve their lives. Without trial and with no automatic bail review, they can face months and years of incarceration before being forcibly deported to unsafe countries. Detention has become an integral part of the UK immigration system and is one of its most brutal and dehumanising aspects, whereby innocent and vulnerable people are interned in prison for political ends, in terrible conditions. The use of detention is increasing, with the UK Borders Agency announcing a 60% increase in bed spaces. 8 of the 11 Immigration Detention/Removal prisons in the UK are run for profit by private companies.[see also Harmondsworth, Yarlswood]
Deportation - forced removal of a migrant from the country by state/immigration authorities. In 2007 the UK government deported 63,140 migrants. Airline companies are a key link in the deportation industry. Without them it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for the state to implement this aspect of the migration regime and there can be no migration controls without deportations. People who are being deported are often handcuffed on the flight and there have been a number reports of physical assaults on deportees by the security personnel who escort them. Between 2005 and 2007, 1,173 attempts at removal were halted as resistance by the detained person meant the airline wouldn’t carry them [see also BMI, XL Airlines] [2]
Dispersal - people seeking asylum in the UK can't choose where they want to live. The UK Borders Agency sends people to cities across the UK, regardless of community links or cultural ties. This is dispersal, a policy which has led to people being isolated, unable to access legal representation, and subject to racist attacks [see NASS].
Direct Action - this is an important form of action advocated by No Borders groups. By Direct Action we don't mean demonstrations or publicity stunts, but those actions that have a direct, unmediated impact on people's lives. When asylum seekers resist their deportations, when activists block the paths of snatch squads, when neighbours hide migrants from immigration officials - none of these actions ask for the rights to do so, ensure their legality or involve MPs or politicians. They are direct interventions to make our lives better.
Destitution - most people whose asylum claims have been refused by the Home Office are not entitled to any support or accommodation, they are not allowed to work, and cannot access healthcare. The threat of destitution is used to try to force people to agree to 'voluntary' return, and to leave the UK even when this may be impossible, for example if the country they came from is not safe to return to. Thousands of people who have sought asylum in the UK become destitute, sleeping rough.
"Don't' Ask, Don't Tell" - colleges, health services and so on are increasingly being asked to police immigration law through checks on immigration status of people they come into contact with. Don't Ask, Don't Tell campaigns encourage workers in these services to refuse to implement this aspect of border control.
Dungavel - detention centre in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, where men, women and children are incarcerated. Other detention centres in the UK include Campsfield, Yarl's Wood and Harmondsworth.
Dublin II Regulation - A 2003 agreement (replacing the original 1990 Dublin Convention) between EU member states which says that people seeking asylum can make only one application for asylum in the territory of the EU, and can be forcibly returned to the EU state held responsible for deciding on their claim (usually the first one they arrived in). When people are returned to that state, they can be unable to access asylum procedures so often don’t have their case heard and are deported back to the situation they originally fled from. An example of this in action can be seen at Calais, where UK and French authorities work together to stop people seeking asylum from reaching Britain. [summarise in Schengen agreements?]
E
eBorders – part of the UK’s new border control system which will aim to collect and store electronic information on all people entering and leaving the UK. The e-Borders Operations Centre, the physical location of this information database, is to be housed near Manchester, though the precise location is secret. By the end of 2009 the database is to track and retain the international travel records of all 250m passenger movements in and out of the UK, storing names, addresses, telephone numbers, seat reservations, travel itineraries and credit card details. 'Trusted Borders' – consortium of private companies that has the contract for providing eBorders technology to the UK government. Includes Raytheon Systems Limited, Serco, Accenture, Detica, QinetiQ, Steria, and Capgemini.
Entry Point -
Environmental Refugee - the millions of people displaced due to natural disasters, development processes such as the construction of dams, deforestation or any of the vast consequences of climate change are excluded from the definition of refugee given in the Geneva Convention [see Asylum Seeker]. As climate change continues, it is expected that there will be millions more environmental refugees. Whilst the 'developed' world is almost entirely responsible for producing greenhouse gases, the primary cause of climate change, the effects are mostly felt by the majority world.
Economic Migrant -
F
Fortress Europe - this is a powerful term to describe the EU's border regime a maintained by Frontex. The term has received attention way beyond those campaigning against borders as many more have used it to criticise Europe's policies to restrict, and virtually make it impossible, to enter the area freely. Others however have pointed to the limitations of the slogan (see autonomous movements).
Frontex - The EU agency which conducts migrant hunting operations, trains border guards and special units to hunt down people crossing borders, and helps to coordinate and standardize EU immigration surveillance and control policies. "together, the Frontex agency and the border code represent the state-of-the-art of EU co-operation on management and control of borders". Franco Frattini, Frontex. The effects of Frontex can be seen clearly at the Southern edge of the EU where migrants cross from West Africa to the Canary Islands where the rate of deaths due to drowning, hunger and thirst among those who leave Africa by sea has increased significantly. Frontex and its deadly policies are a target of activists against migration control and border surveillance, and for freedom of movement for all. In June 2008 a day of action to shut down Frontex took place at the headquarters of Frontex in Warsaw. [3] [4] [5] [6]
"Free Migration" -
Freedom of Movement -
Freedom to Choose - Poverty, privatisation of services, colonisation, war, exploitation of resources, and destructive interventions by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank are the background to flight and migration for hundreds and thousands of people. The No Borders network works for an end to conditions which can force displacement, and for a world where people have the freedom to stay or to move as they choose. [relabel Self-Determination?]
G
G4S - (Group 4 Security)- multinational corporation involved in running detention centres for profit. Runs Tinsley House, Oakington and Dungavel. Also has the contract for transportation of asylum seekers and immigration detainees, and for short term holding centres in UK ports and airports.
GSL - Global Solutions Limited, now part of G4S, will run Brook House detention centre.
Gatwick - The first UK No Borders camp was organised near to Gatwick Airport in September 2007. Several hundred people gathered for discussion, workshops, demonstrations and planning actions, to try and stop the building of a new detention centre, and to gather ideas for how to build up the fight against the system of migration controls. Gatwick was chosen because it is a border in the middle of Britain. People arrive there everyday. People are forcibly deported from here everyday. It is a place where people are imprisoned for unlimited lengths of time without trial, where people are forced to hide underground and be invisible, where people are treated as criminals for the 'crime' of crossing the border. Brook House the new detention centre built on BAA land will open it's 430 bed capacity centre on xx. This will be another in a long line of barbarous prisons across the world, imprisoning people who migrate. [campare and edit Brook House entry]
G8 - At the summit of the G8 in 2007, (the annual meeting of the heads of state of the world’s most powerful countries) thousands of protesters organized actions on flight and migration which highlighted the G8’s role in building barriers to free movement, at the same time as creating conditions which force people to move.
H
Harmondsworth In 2006, this detention centre was the subject of a damning report by the Prisons Inspectorate, which highlighted appalling conditions, endemic racism and victimisation of detainees by staff, and numerous self-harm and suicide attempts by detainees. Mass protests spread through Harmondsworth after staff at the Kalyx-run centre stopped detainees watching a tv news item on the report. The centre was seriously damaged, the detainees were moved to other detention centres and prisons, and the centre was closed for some time – as it was after another protest in 2004. [see also Detention, Kalyx, Yarl's Wood]
Home Office -
I
ID cards - On 25th November, the British state began its roll-out of biometric ID cards by imposing them first on migrants. From this date foreign spouses and nationals from outside Fortress Europe who apply for, or renew, study visas will be required to attend a UK Border Agency Centre for interrogation and fingerprinting. They will then be issued with cards which will hold their name, photograph, nationality and immigration status, along with a biometric chip that will hold their fingerprints and digital image. The details will be held indefinitely on the UK Identity Service database. Over the next three years, other groups of non-EU nationals will be forced to undergo the process.
Protests took place across the UK on the day the roll out began. Ongoing campaigns against ID cards continue xx
3M-SPSL is the company that will manufacture and supply the first identity cards. 3M-SPSL currently produces the biometric passport. CSC, EDS, Fujitsu, IBM, and Thales are other companies who will be involved in delivering other parts of the National Identity Scheme.
Immigration Judges -
ILR - Indefinite leave to remain
IOM - International Organisation for Migration is a 'migration management' service agency that answers to its 125 or so member states. The IOM’s role is to effectively blackmail migrants who have been pushed into poverty or desperation to return ‘voluntarily’ with a little sum of money to their 'home' countries.
Islamophobia - refers to non-progressive criticism and often violent rejection of Islam and Muslim immigrants. Muslims are falsely seen to belong to a homogenous and rigid 'culture' that is perceived as essentially different from and non-compatible with British (or Western) 'culture'. Islam is described as backward, anti-Western and 'terroristic'. This perspective is shared by states that can use and foster Islamophobic sentiments to build their new security architecture and step up population controls.
J
Jobs - Migration controls are a weapon against the whole work force. Used to divide and rule, they create a situation where there are some workers with less or no rights. Migration legislation won’t stop people from seeking a better life for themselves and their families in the rich west. However, legislation works to the advantage of employers by creating conditions where people are less able to organise at work, allowing employers to further downgrade working conditions for all [move to a different section?].
Judicial Review -
Justice for Cleaners -
K
Kalyx - private company running Harmondsworth detention centre, where loads of protests have taken place about conditions. Formerly known as UK Detention Services, Kalyx was originally formed as a joint venture between Corrections Corporation of America, McAlpines & Mowlem. They renamed themselves after 'the protective covering of a flower bud' (calyx) to symbolise the 'protection and care' they provide. They are also a subsidiary of the Dutch multinational Sodexho. Hmm... [see Detention, Harmondsworth]
L
Legal Aid - One big problem for asylum seekers is that their entitlement to legal aid has been cut dramatically over the last few years. The entire asylum process relies on the 'fair, justice process' but without access to good legal advice, translation and support, many cases are lost. Some cannot even afford to apply for asylum and are forced underground.
Limbo -
Libertarian - an antonym of authoritarian, the Libertarian principle puts freedom (understood as non-interference) as the only thing that can be legitimately demanded of others. This includes Freedom of Movement, however due to the fudging of the term by propertarians mostly from North America (and now also the UK Libertarian Party), many Libertarians who oppose privilege and believe in the principle of equality refer to themselves 'Libertarian Socialist' or even 'Social Anarchist'. [see also: Anarchism]
Local Immigration Teams – part of the UK Borders Agency, Local Immigration Teams are responsible for enforcing border and immigration law, including tracking down migrants, gathering ‘intelligence’, detaining people and carrying out forced removals. Currently being introduced across the UK, there will eventually be 70-80 teams... [7]
M
"Migration is not a crime" - It is central to No Borders that we fight for freedom of movement for all....
Migration has always been present in human history.??????????
Migration Management - Migration controls in the UK are not simply based on racial profiling but often follow the logic of economic profit. Hence the government might at times encourage certain types of migrants to work, study or even settle in the UK, while it tends to restrict entry to those who are not deemed 'beneficial' to the economy. The government might also attempt to influence migrants into leaving the UK, for example through the IOM. This is why, instead of immigration controls, some prefer to speak of migration management.
Migration Watch - extreme right-wing think tank and influential lobbying group. Migration Watch claims to be 'independent and non-political' don't stand up to scrutiny. Migration Watch's previous head was David Coleman, who also held office in the Eugenics Society and its successor the Galton Institute, which advocates the 'improvement' of populations through breeding, proclaims the superiority of the white race, and denounces inter-breeding.
Media Hysteria - The ongoing demonisation of asylum seekers and migrants by media corporations was satirised by Manchester No Borders in spoof newspaper the ‘Hate Mail'...
Myths - myths abound about refugees, asylum and migration. Migrants are scapegoated and used to distract attention from the real cause of poverty, poor housing and crap jobs - capitalism!
N
New Asylum Model – introduced in 2007 with the aim of dealing with asylum claims as quickly as possible, reducing chances of successfully claiming asylum and speeding up removal from the UK. Criticised as people seeking asylum have to immediately present all the sensitive information relating to their case, and often cannot get proper legal advice or representation in time. Cases are ‘fast-tracked’, many are decided on within 11 days.
NASS - The National Asylum Support Service (NASS), set up by the Home Office in 2000, created a separate system of housing and financial provision for people seeking asylum in the UK. As well as being unable to work, asylum seekers are unable to claim the normal state benefits that a British citizen is entitled to, or to access council housing. Instead, asylum seekers are given minimal financial support and dispersed to poor quality housing owned by private companies. Asylum seekers receive around a third less than a British citizen would get on Income Support. NASS was dissolved in 2006, but the separate system remains in place, under the remit of the UK Borders Agency. This system has forced many people into destitution, malnutrition, and homelessness...
Nations - the modern world is divided into nations. Most people assume that it has always been that way or that this is the most 'natural' way of distinguishing between groups of people. But nations are actually specifically historical constructs that have become communities of allegiance for many. The terms of inclusion and exclusion into a national group is always changing, and any perceived common values or identity based purely on nationality are thus 'imagined'.
Nation State - ??? [maybe the Nations definition & this one could be integrated and made a bit more succinct?]
Nationalism – nationalism is a product of a manufactured loyalty. People are encouraged to feel pride and unity with people who coincidently they share a place of birth with. Based on the false premise of shared identity, nationalism is an example of how the powerful maintain power by divide and rule, ‘us’ and ‘them’...
Network - A loose network of groups in the UK has been working on No Borders issues for several years. Since the No Borders camp at Gatwick in 2007, the network has been growing. There have been 3 network wide gatherings since then and there are active groups in several major UK cities including Bristol, Leeds, London, Manchester and in the North East and South Wales. There are also many groups who work alongside the No Borders network such as Close Campsfield Campaign in Oxford, Defy-ID in Nottingham, and the Unity Centre in Glasgow. Many other people share the political analysis of No Borders and work with the network on specific actions. There are similiar networks and groups around the world, e.g. Frassanito Network; – Italy; All Included – The Netherlands;REDI (Network for Immigrants Rights) – Spain; Network for Social Support to Immigrants and Refugees – Greece; Fels (Für eine linke Strömung) – Berlin; CADI – Italy; AFVMC – Douala/Cameroon;
O
'Off-shore Border Control' - more and more, EU countries are trying to extend their control of who enters by creating border controls outside of what they define as 'their' territory. These ‘external’ or ‘off-shore’ border controls include visas for entry, fines on airlines for carrying people, intercepting boats in international waters and departure ports, storing and sharing biometric data on people travelling, and agreements with governments of countries people migrate from or through. These things increase the reach of the border. ‘Border control can no longer just be a fixed line on a map. Using new technology, particularly biometrics, and new approaches to managing risk and intelligence, we must create a new offshore line of defence, checking individuals as far from the UK as possible and through each stage of their journey’. [8] One effect of these extended border controls is that people have to take more and more dangerous routes to migrate. [take out quote? See fortress europe]
Open Borders Policy - is when the State does not restrict people from traveling or residing anywhere they are entitled to travel or reside. N.B.: it is sometimes assumed that the No Borders network campaigns for an Open Borders policy. However, No Borders is based on much more far-reaching political and social changes than that. An Open Borders policy still assumes the existance of states, nations and therefore borders (albeit without immigration controls). No Borders is not possible within this framework.
Optimum Population Trust - the OPT is an environmental (eco-nationalist) pressure group lobbying for population control and reduction. It has a list of high-profile patrons such as Jonathan Porrit. Amongst its policy suggestions is an end to immigration.
'Overpopulation' - Environmental arguments are increasingly used to curtail freedom of movement. This includes the argument that Britain (or the planet) is full; i.e. has reached unsustainable levels of population growth. What is presented as a scientific fact is actually rooted in a reactionary political view that has historically been used to defend those who benefit from the status quo against the perceived 'threat' of the poor, Jews, or immigrants. Advocates of population control thus argue that there should be a cap on (or reduction of) the population level in a particular place/country and that this is best done by stopping immigration.
P
Pennine House - a short term holding facility at Manchester airport with a capacity of 32 detainees
Points-based system - Before 2008 there were about 80 ways people from other countries could apply for permission to work in the UK. These came about bit by bit, reflecting economic and political conditions at different times. In times of labour shortage, migrants were welcomed, at other times greater restrictions on movement have been put in place. In February 2008, a new ‘points-based’ system came into force. Non-EU migrants are now allocated points depending on their ‘benefit to the UK’, and have to fit into one of five tiers that determine rights during their stay. The more ‘skilled’ a person is, the easier it is for them to gain admission. In government language, the British economy can gain from their skills. The less ‘skilled’ a person is, the more difficult it is for them to gain admission and the greater the degree of control over them after their admission. The majority of people in the world are excluded from these tiers altogether. The points-based system further reduces migration policy to a one-way street of ‘benefit to the UK economy’. [see migration management - most of this is covered there, the points based system section could be cut down?] ... [9]
Population - see overpopulation?
Population Control/Management -
Prison Industrial Complex -
Profiteers - (could be the link between the companies listed already, and others like housing providers)
Q
Queers Without Borders - network of queer activists of all sexualities to undertake and support actions against the border regime. Queers without Borders activists highlight and reject the borders imposed between sexualities, between genders, between our abilities to live as we wish and the strictures imposed by the state that attempt prevent us defining of our own ways of living. In a society which always attempts to strengthen the position of institutionalised power by making someone 'other' (whether this be by race/sexuality/gender or any other means) Queers Without Borders is part of a wider network which refuses to accept this present condition of nations and borders, of a containment of people behind false boundaries that only serve to profit those who hold power.
R
RABIT (Rapid Border Intervention Teams) - Effectively the paramilitary wing of Frontex. Special rapid response teams established in 2007 by the European Parliament, to give "technical and operational assistance in the case of major influxes of illegal migrants over the external borders of any EU Member State". [see also: Frontex] [10]
Racism - is the modern ideology that human beings can be categorised and separated into inherently different, but internally cohesive, groups based on genetic and ethnic background. In most cases this leads to prejudice, discrimination, oppression and violence, as racists assume the superiority of their own race.
Racialism - this is a term we will be confronted with more frequently as the BNP is putting on a friendlier face and is trying to find a disguise for its racism. It refers to the position that races exist and that there are essential differences between them. It does not assume the superiority of one race over others, but asserts that the different characteristics of races should be recognised.
Recent – immigration controls are often taken for granted, but are actually a recent phenomena. The first restrictions on immigration to the UK came into force only a little over 100 years ago. Since them, restrictions have become stronger and harsher. [take this out?] YES
Resistance- In the Sighthill Estate area of Glasgow, the local community got together to fight against dawn raids by immigration snatch squads, coming out onto the street when immigration vans arrived, and successfully stopping many attempted snatches of families. This is just one inspiring example of self-organisation, solidarity and resistance. [see also: Unity Centre]
Reform - Many charities and humanitarian agencies call for an overhaul of the asylum system to make it less harsh, or to make it ‘fairer’. But reforms are not enough!
Reporting – most people applying for asylum have to ‘report’ at either police stations or Home Office Reporting Centres. People often get snatched when they go to report. The Unity Centre in Glasgow has helped stop the disappearance, detention or deportation of hundreds of people by supporting people going to sign, and working for their release if they are detained. In other cities No Borders groups accompany people going to report, and many pickets have been held at Reporting Centres and police stations.
S
Sangatte - In 1999 the French Red Cross were invited by the Chirac government to open up a camp to deal with the humanitarian crisis in NW France, that saw 100's of migrants sleeping rough in the region's town. Located in Calais 1/2 mile from the Channel Tunnel entrance, it soon became a major source of tension between the UK & French governments. A deal to close it was hammered out in September 2002 between Home Secretary David Blunkett and the French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy. In it the UK agreed to take 3/4 of the camp population and pay for the majority of a planned £5M fence around the Channel Tunnel entrance to try and stop migrants from jumping trains. The deal was a major coup for Sarkozy - the UK bore most of the burden for the camp closure, they agreed to toughen the UK's immigration laws and help create a rightist agenda for asylum reform in France.
Safe Country - a country that the Home Office regards as a place where persecution does not happen. If a person seeking asylum is from one of the countries on this list, their claim will be refused. Examples of 'safe' countries include Ukraine, Albania, Romania, Sri Lanka.
Safe Third Country – one where it is thought that someone seeking asylum could have received protection. If someone travelled through one of these countries on their way, they can be sent back to this country. EU countries aim to create a ‘buffer zone’ against asylum immigration by declaring the ring of countries around the EU ‘safe countries’, despite conditions in many of them making them unsafe. This is in violation not just of the higher principle of freedom of movement, but of the commitments of EU countries to the Geneva Convention which grants people the right to apply for asylum in any country that has signed it. The lists of safe countries and safe third countries are not the same. [summarise as part of Fortress Europe section?] [definitely cut down but probably better to keep next to safe country definition]
Schengen agreements - The 1985 Schengen Agreement was the first of many agreements between European states to work together on border management. The agreements relate to travel between EU member states, control of external EU borders, information sharing and sanctions on ships and planes carrying undocumented people. [see also Dublin II Regulation] The Schengen Information System (SIS) is the central database that tracks migrants, refugees, travellers, asylum seekers and others who come to Europe. It is used by EU member states to record millions of bits of information on people and other items of interest to customs and immigration authorities and police. The functions and members of this information sharing system are being increased with the development of SIS II. SIS has a central office in Strasbourg, which was the subject of an international No Border actioncamp of 2000 people in 2002.
‘Security’ - is the latest government buzzword used to create a climate of fear and to justify increasing measures of control. This can be seen visibly at the frontiers of ‘Fortress Europe’, where border controls have been fortified, but also happens in less visible ways. Surveillance and control within the EU is steadily increasing, for example through cross-border information sharing between police and intelligence services, and 'harmonising' national legislation, such as on the keeping and sharing of telecommunication and internet data records. Whether migrant or non-migrant, these measures affect us all. [11] [See also: ID Cards]??
Socialism -
Solidarity -
Snatch Squads - One area of work that No Borders network have tried to highlight are the snatch squads that operate to take people from their homes and into detention, to be deported. These dawn raids often target families, to take them all at once before they go to work or school. Several blockades of Border and Immigration Agency buildings have prevented vans leaving to go and snatch people.
Sans Papiers -
States -
Self-organisation - In the xx area of Glasgow, the local community got together to fight against dawn raids by immigration snatch squads, coming out onto the street when immigration vans arrived, and successfully stopping many attempted snatches of families. This is just one inspiring example of self-organisation, solidarity and resistance.
Section 4 - minimal support to some destitute people whose asylum claims have been rejected but who are are unable to return to their country of origin. Often given months late, Section 4 support is conditional - people must meet certain conditions in order to qualify, including agreeing to a 'voluntary' return.
T
Trafficking [12]
Transnationalisation [13]
Tour of Shame - No Borders groups have conducted 'tours of asylum shame' visiting the institutions, companies and government offices involved the appalling treatment, destitution, detention and deportation of asylum seekers and dispelling the myths pedalled in the media about housing, employment and other issues. Tours have highlighted key issues, such as how UK trade and foreign policies create thousands of asylum seekers ever year.
U
UK Border Agency (UKBA) – part of the Home Office, the UKBA is responsible for things relating to border and immigration control like border checks, eborders, issuing visas, the asylum process, the points-based system, detention centres, biometric ID cards, and hunting down and forcibly removing people from the UK. Established in April 2008, it combines the functions of the Border and Immigration Agency, UK visa service, and some parts of HM Revenue and Customs.
There are x regional offices. The Cardiff office is picketed regularly by No Borders South Wales.
Unity Centre - migrants support centre located less than 100 metres from the main Glasgow Home Office’s reporting centre. Set up in 2006, it is run by a volunteers collective and funded entirely by donations and "provides practical solidarity and support for asylum seekers especially when they face being locked up in detention centres or being forcibly removed".
Underground -
Undocumented - migrants who don't fit into one of the state-authorised channels of migration, including people who have had their asylum claims turned down, people who have overstayed a tourist or student visa, people who have arrived 'unofficially' etc. Undocumented migrants are denied citizenship rights, and live in precarious situations. Regardless of government policies, people will continue to try to migrate, as they always have done. While government rhetoric emphasises 'cracking down' on undocumented migrants, in reality the UK economy relies on this supply of cheap, exploitable labour.
V
Voucher Scheme - designed to remove asylum seekers from the cash economy, the voucher scheme gave people support only in the form of vouchers. This was stigmatising, dehumanising, and meant people couldn't choose what or where to buy. Withdrawn after massive protests!
‘Voluntary’ Return - [see also: IOM]
W
West, North, or 'Developed' World, The - shorthand terms which refer to the part of the world which has accumulated the majority of wealth, at the expense of the rest of the world and the natural environment.
Woolas, Phil - Borders and Immigration Minister (2008 to present), former Environment Minister, Labour MP for Oldham and Saddleworth. Upon his appointment as Immigration Minister he loudly proclaimed 'It's been too easy to get into this country in the past and its going to get harder'. Since then he has been one of the most controversial ministers in the Brown government, suggesting a cap on Britain's population, that immigration lawyers are a lobby group abusing the system, and that the Geneva Convention protecting the right to seek asylum should be altered, amongst many other 'gaffes'. In October 2008, Woolas had a custard pie pushed in his face by people from Manchester No Borders for his 'eco-nationalist' remarks on overpopulation. [Neo-Labour's answer to Enoch Powell]
Worker Solidarity - in relation to Amey, Tube cleaners, etc
WTO (World Trade Organisation) - international body that decides the rules that govern international trade. Promotes 'free trade', in other words getting rid of regulations that restrict multinational companies or the free flow of goods. Proposes reducing restrictions on certain types of labour migration to the west in return for greater opportunities for companies to operate without restriction in the global south. these measures are not based on a belief in freedom of movement for all, but use managed migration as a bargaining chip to increase the ability of the west to exploit the developing world, including through directing labour flows.
X
Xenophobia -
XL Airlines - Undertaking deportation charter flights poses a reputational risk for some commercial airlines. In 2007, XL Airways withdrew from a £1.5m contract with the Home Office following a number of protests highlighting the airline's involvement in forced deportations to DR Congo. Despite this, other airlines insist that they are legally bound to carry deportees. Unrelated to this, XL went bust in 2008.
Y
Yarl's Wood - is a detention centre near Bedford which holds women and children. Yarl's Wood was half destroyed by fire in 2002, following an uprising ignited by the ill-treatment of a sick woman by guards. Detainees and staff were left locked all night in the burning building! Fires, riots and hunger-strikes in protest at appalling treatment and conditions are such a common occurrence in the 11 detention centres operating in the UK that it would be impossible to document them all. Many subsequent protests have highlighted racism and violence from guards, obstruction of asylum claims, attempts to isolate people from outside support and targeting of so-called ringleaders.
Z
Zimbabwe - is a good example of where foreign policy and the legacy of British colonialism are tightly intertwined with the fate of asylum seekers today. ...
LINKS AND REFERENCES
noborder.org noborders.org.uk