Newsletter MIGRANTSICILY – February 2016

– The implementation of the hotspot device; still many unaccompanied minors among those rejected
– Forced identification and lacking protection: the case of Pala Nebiolo of Messina
– New migrants arriving, more dead and injured. The militarization of arrivals continues
– The drama of long waiting times: challenge for a worthy reception that does not exist

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HOSTPOT DEVICE; STILL MANY UNACCOMPANIED MINORS AMONG THOSE REJECTED
The way towards a decriminalization of the offence of illegal migration comes to a new halt: who arrives in Italy continues not to be considered a victim of an exploitation system, but rather liable to inquiry. Meanwhile, within the hotspots continues the overall selection between migrants allowed to stay in Europe and those rejected in the midst of controls, lacking information and strong psychological repression, and in the full absence of individual protection. Borderline Sicilia visits the hotspot of Pozzallo.
http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/02/migranti-primi-mesi-del-sistema-hotspot.html
http://139.59.187.32/2016/02/01/borderline-sicilia-visits-the-hotspot-of-pozzallo/

The denunciation of illegitimate procedures put in place in the hotspots continues, and the failing results of relocation operations do not stop the implementation of agreements foreseen by the Road Map. After the failing of Augusta appears the candidacy of Messina as headquarter for a new hotspot in Sicily.
http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/02/migranti-un-hotspot-messina-invece-che.html

The inhumanity encompassing the management of migration flows results even more clearly in continuous rejection of vulnerable persons and minors, who are left at the mercy of possible exploitation by the state itself that should protect them. These are illegitimate procedures dictated by political decisions that put the interests of European government before the respect of every right.
http://139.59.187.32/2016/02/02/alagies-story-one-out-of-many-rejected-minors/

FORCED IDENTIFICATION AND LACKING PROTECTION: THE CASE OF PALA NEBIOLO OF MESSINA
Baton sticks for giving lessons during rescue operations at sea and the use of violence in order to obtain digital fingerprints. Lacking of protection and of information on the possibility to travel; minors and vulnerable people hosted in a completely inadequate centre. The fears and assertions of some migrants who are residing at the Pala Nebiolo in Messina.
http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/02/pala-nebiolo-di-messina-impronte-con-la.html

Also in Messina, the situation of minors who transited by the Gravitelli gym last October remains worrying. Having been transferred from emergency centres to first reception centres, after months they still remain without the specific assistance they are entitled to.
http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/02/i-minori-della-palestra-gravitelli.html

NEW MIGRANTS ARE ARRIVING, MORE DEATHS AND INJURED. THE MILITARIZATION OF ARRIVALS CONTINUES
Also this winter, thousands of migrants have crossed the Mediterranean Sea arriving in Sicily. Many continue to die at sea, while others carry the recent wounds of violence suffered before departing. Waiting for them is a system that is becoming increasingly militarized and which puts security and control before human solidarity.
http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/02/colpi-di-arma-da-fuoco-sparati-sui.html
http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/02/a-pozzallo-accoglienza-sempre-piu.html

THE DRAMA OF LONG WAITING TIMES: CHALLENGE FOR A WORTHY RECEPTION THAT DOES NOT EXIST
What we have found at the CAS* visited this month are situations of desolation and abandonment. Waiting for months and years, migrants live in centres lacking capable staff and persons of reference, where illegal work becomes the only opportunity and often integral part of the management of reception. Indeed, in order to decrease costs, many services are covered by the guests themselves, who pay with their own money earned through their exploitation in the fields.
http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/02/visita-al-cas-di-aidone-hotel-morgantina.html
http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/02/visita-al-cas-della-coop-arc-en-ciel-di.html#more

Also in the SPRAR centres* educational projects often do not become opportunities for an actual integration into the local reality or into the context of local employment. The long waiting times for documents bind the future of refugees to infinite administrative bureaucratic procedures, that are increasingly outwearing, considering that opportunities for integration into surrounding communities are scarce, as are the possibilities of building a future in Italy.
http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/02/il-centro-sprar-di-gela-dove-la-parola.html
http://siciliamigranti.blogspot.it/2016/02/lo-sprar-del-comune-di-aidone.html

Networking is one of the first steps for creating an effective integration. Borderline visited Villa Sergio in Caltanissetta, a reception facility for persons with HIV, thus presenting the CICA network*, which connects all housing communities for HIV-positive persons and that can become a point of reference in the region.
http://139.59.187.32/2016/02/23/visit-to-villa-sergio-in-caltanissetta/

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*CPSA: Centri d’Accoglienza Staordinaria – Emergency Reception Centres
*SPRAR: Sistema di protezione per rifugiati e richiedenti asilo – protection facilities for asylum seekers and refugees
*CICA: Coordinamento Italiano delle Case Alloggio per persone con HIV/AIDS – Italian Coordination of housing communities for people affected by HIV

Translation by Chiara Guccione