Migration in times of pandemic

In recent weeks we have seen the impact of the current health crisis gradually spreading to all areas with regard to the organisation of our social life. Migratory flows are no exception to this. How is this health crisis affecting migration issues on the European continent - the flows themselves, the policies in place, the migrants already settled there or waiting to enter? In order to be able to reasonably answer this question, we have reviewed the content of information published on the subject between the second half of March and throughout the month of April, in order to point out the most significant trends: 

1. Decrease in the entry of foreigners. The European Border Agency reported that the arrival of illegal immigrants to the continent during the month of March was reduced by half compared to February. In the specific case of Spain, due mainly to the reduction in the number of flights, requests for asylum fell by 44% in March compared with the previous month (14,633 in February compared with 8,119 in March). The arrival of boats across the Mediterranean has become a testimony (the isolation and confinement measures taken in Morocco and Spain have been decisive in this respect), and the flow of those heading for the Canary Islands has slowed down, although not stopped altogether. 
 

2. Deployment of common migration policies. Another consequence of the crisis can be seen in the greater difficulty in implementing common migratory policies, specifically both those relating to operations for the arrival and distribution of refugees (the Commission itself confirmed in the third week of April that the pandemic was having "direct consequences" on the planned asylum mechanisms), and those relating to the return of immigrants who are in an irregular situation to their countries of origin, both of which are seriously compromised by the closure of borders and reduced air traffic. 

With regard to return, the Council of Europe urged the Member States to release immigrants held in reception centres for the duration of the crisis, since detention only makes sense if the return to their countries of origin can take place, which is not feasible in the current circumstances. Several European countries (including Spain) have implemented this release.  

3. The health crisis has also highlighted the difficult living conditions of immigrants already settled in EU territory. In the specific case of Spain, unstable jobs, poor housing conditions and the irregular situation of many of them make them a very vulnerable group in critical situations. Likewise, the usefulness of many of the activities they carry out, such as caring for the elderly or harvesting in the fields, has been highlighted.

At European level, the need of health systems in developed countries for qualified immigrants in the health professions has been pointed out. In this specific aspect, the removal of administrative and legal obstacles (which are not at all "insurmountable") in certain countries to attract health care professional immigrants has attracted attention (perhaps because of the brazenness with which it has been made explicit in some cases). As has been pointed out in some quarters, this crisis could have the positive effect of rethinking the living conditions of immigrants already settled in our country, facilitating their integration and firmly recognising their contribution to society.  

4. Finally, another aspect that has been addressed in the current health crisis is the situation in refugee camps. The largest concentration of refugees on European soil is on the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. One of these islands, Lesbos, is home to Moria, the largest refugee camp in the EU, which accommodates some 20,000 people. Médecins Sans Frontières has been reporting on the situation there, which was already unsustainable before the pandemic and, in the current circumstances (when hygiene and physical distance are essential), impossible to manage. Hence the request by several international organisations for this and other camps to be evacuated as a matter of urgency.  

Luis Guerra, Professor of Spanish Language at the European University of Madrid, is one of the main researchers of the INMIGRA3-CM project, financed by the Community of Madrid and the European Social Fund