Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)

🚨 NEW 🚨 Across the EU, people continue to be criminalised simply for crossing borders or for helping others in need. Our new report is out today. Between January and December 2024, we found that at least 142 people faced judicial proceedings in the EU for helping migrants. The majority were charged with facilitation of entry, stay or transit or migrant smuggling. What they actually did was rescuing people at sea, offering food, water or clothing, or protesting against state abuse. In parallel, we found at least 91 migrants being criminalised themselves simply because they steered a boat or drove a vehicle across a border, or helped fellow travellers. These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg, as many cases go unreported or never make it to the public eye. And things are likely to get worse. A new EU Directive on migrant smuggling, currently under negotiation in the European Parliament, leaves the door open to the criminalisation of humanitarian assistance and could expand the grounds for criminalising migrants. We won't stay silent. On the contrary, we're working with other NGOs and allies to make sure that migration and solidarity are never criminalised. And to build a Europe where solidarity and kindness are celebrated instead. Help us spread the word ❤️ 📖 Read our full report on https://lnkd.in/d-i8Z4QV

💌 The European Parliament is getting ready to vote on a new law that threatens those of us who help others in need. Let's stop this.   The draft Facilitation Directive is meant to counter migrant smuggling, but it leaves the door open to the criminalisation of solidarity with people in an irregular situation.   Over the last months, we have joined forces with other NGOs and ice-cream company Ben and Jerry's to raise awareness about this law and its impact on people.   As the European Parliament's civil liberties committee gets ready to vote on this draft law, you can tell those in charge to exempt solidarity from criminalisation and protect our right to help.   How?   Ben and Jerry's have put together email forms which you can send to the MEPs responsible for this file.   Simply click on the links under the MEPs you want to email.   France: 💌 MEP Fabienne Keller (shadow rapporteur for Renew Europe, centre) on https://lnkd.in/d2QRWEAQ   Germany:  💌 MEP Birgit Sippel (rapporteur for S&D, centre-left) 💌 MEP Lena Düpont (shadow rapporteur for EPP, centre-right) 💌 MEP Erik Marquardt (shadow rapporteur for The Greens/EFA, centre-left) (all together) on https://lnkd.in/dbqmiUFH   The Netherlands: 💌 MEP Malik Azmani (Renew Europe, centre) 💌 MEP Jeroen Lenaers (EPP, centre-right) (both together) on https://lnkd.in/dXTzh223   Solidarity should be celebrated, not criminalised. Let's make our voices heard.

Immigration raids are not a US exclusive. In our latest newsletter, we tell you where they've been happening in Europe, with worrying news from France. Also, in our latest newsletter: 🔍 The EU Ombudsman has opened an inquiry into EU migrant smuggling rules ⚖️ A German court ruled against rejecting asylum-seekers at borders ⛔ The Greek government wants to criminalise irregular stay *** 📲 Read the latest issue of The Migration Papers below - and hit the subscribe button! You'll get automatic notifications from LinkedIn as soon as we publish a new issue. 💌 If you prefer to read The Migration Papers on email, sign up on https://lnkd.in/eTxrmu6d

"The only solution is clear: give them a path to legal certainty" - Star Wars actor Diego Luna about undocumented people in the US 💖 Speaking at the Jimmy Kimmel live show, Mexican actor Diego Luna, mostly famous for his roles in the Star Wars series Andor, shared heartfelt and compelling words about violence and exploitation of undocumented people - and crucially about their contribution to the US society. Here are some key excerpts we've selected for you: 🎤🎤🎤 Today, many people are feeling persecuted. Far too many people live in fear, fear of taking their kids to school. Or going to places where they earn an honest living. These people, they're your neighbours, your friends. The multiple times that this country has had to rebuild itself, immigrants were always there to pick up the slack. When LA burned, immigrant workers risked their lives to stop the flames. They are the ones who build this country, they feed it, they nurture and teach its children. They care for the elderly. They work in construction, hospitality, they run kitchens. They're technicians, merchants, athletes, drivers, farmers. They pay a lot of taxes with their job. Papers or no papers. In 2022, undocumented immigrants contributed around 96.7 billion dollars worth of taxes. It is not acceptable, nor is it normal, to separate families. Violence and terror are not ok. This country benefits from the work of immigrants, but refuses to recognise its importance. That is what needs to change. It's about acknowledging the work of millions and how unfair it is that they have to live in hiding. The only solution is clear now, and it's been clear for decades. Give them a path to legal certainty. 🎤🎤🎤

On migrant smuggling rules, the Commission didn't consider human rights. With European Digital Rights, we filed a complaint to the European Ombudsman. The European Commission failed to properly assess the impact of proposed new laws against migrant smuggling, the Facilitation Directive and the Europol Regulation. Following our joint complaint with EDRI, the EU Ombudsman has decided to open an inquiry into the Commission's handling of the proposal. The EU Ombudsman’s decision, which was communicated in an email to EDRI, is an important recognition that this proposal risks violating fundamental rights and that the Commission did not take these risks seriously. While it is unclear when the inquiry will be finalised, the Ombudsman could find maladministration and call on the European Commission to change its practices. We hope this inquiry serves as a wake up call to all EU institutions to follow their own due diligence guidelines, and to raise awareness about the human rights risks of counter-smuggling policies. Read more in our press release (link in comment).

🔔 Last call for our traineeship in events and communications! Apply by 25 June, all info on https://picum.org/join-us/

✍ Taking note of the important stuff ✍

Kicking out migrants for political gains, but keeping exploitable migrants for economic profit. This hypocrisy shows in Europe too.

🔔 Looking for a job in migration in Europe? Here's the latest roundup from our network and partners: [Belgium] Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM), Events and Comms Trainee – 25 June https://lnkd.in/dAfuFAmq [Belgium] Platform for Undocumented Migrants (PICUM), 2 Advocacy Trainees – 22 June https://lnkd.in/d9Dc6skU [Belgium] Médecins du Monde, Chief Accountant | Chef Comptable – rolling basis https://lnkd.in/eXA362DV [Czech Republic] People in Need, Media Education Project Coordinator | Koordinátor/ka projektů mediálního vzdělávání  – rolling basis https://lnkd.in/djUgC5Ed [Denmark] Danish Red Cross, Fundraiser – rolling basis https://lnkd.in/d2ywbuT4 [Germany] Arbeit und Leben Berlin-Brandenburg, Project assistant in the AMIF project Brandenburg Active against labour exploitation, forced labour and human trafficking | Projektassistenz im AMIF-Projekt Brandenburg Aktiv gegen Arbeitsausbeutung, Zwangsarbeit und Menschenhandel – 22 June https://lnkd.in/dQCmknPt [Germany] IG Metall, Campaigner – 30 June https://lnkd.in/dm9bxZ4K [Ireland] Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI), Head of Worker Rights and Anti-trafficking (senior position) – 4 July https://lnkd.in/gBBVZBcp [Ireland] Nasc, the Migrant & Refugee Rights Centre, Community Sponsorship Officer – 25 June https://lnkd.in/dB8A8wvB [Netherlands] ASKV / Steunpunt vluchtelingen, Social Legal Assistant | Sociaal Juridisch medewerker – 22 June https://lnkd.in/dyt-XA5r [Netherlands] FairWork, Financial Board Member | Financieel Bestuurslid – rolling basis https://lnkd.in/dG596hCk [Sweden] Swedish Red Cross, Area Manager for Social and Humanitarian Initiatives in the Växjö Red Cross Circle | Områdesansvarig för sociala och humanitära insatser i Växjö Rödakorskrets– 8 August https://lnkd.in/dJyHyqTb [UK] Anti-Slavery International, Communications Officer – 27 June https://lnkd.in/dB4eACEh #jobs #jobfair #migration #humanrights 

By the way, if you need one more reason to apply for our traineeships, we're told we're a cool and supportive team ❤️ Check out our open vacancies on https://picum.org/join-us/