Introduction
When compared to North America, Europe is one of the regions, which is also recording a high influx of immigrants as per the OECD report (2008). Recent studies indicate that the immigration rate in Europe is at 3.0% and therefore, the region hosts about 56 million immigrants (Boswell 2005). Besides immigrants seeking labor or employment in the region, Europe is also a destination for foreigners who are in need of asylum (Anderson 1996).
However, labor immigration and irregular immigration are the elements, which have been highly politicized in the region (Boswell 2003). According to Guiraudon and Lahav, immigration usually puts pressure on the social, economic and political development of most countries in Europe (2006). In addition, recent studies show that the emergence of terrorist attacks, racialism and ethnic conflicts has forced European nations to impose strict laws regarding the immigration law (Brettell and Hollified 2000).
Consequently, FRONTEX is one of the bodies, which became operational in 2005 in order to assess, monitor and impose policies on the rate of immigration in Europe (Dijstelbloem and Meijer 2011). The next paper critically expounds on the role of FRONTEX in curbing illegal immigration in Europe.
Functions of FRONTEX
Surveillance on external borders
With its headquarters in Warsaw, Poland, the European Agency for the management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the member states of the European Union (Frontex) is a body, which controls the borders of the European Union (EU) member states (Carrera 2007).
Structurally, the body is under the headship of a management board, director (IIkka Laitinen) and his deputy. Through the coordination of boundaries or integrated border management, FRONTEX has the mandate to monitor immigration in the European Union (UN 2009). The agency works according to the European fundamental rights, which protects the territories of the European countries.
Therefore, in line with FRONTEX policies, the authorities of different countries cooperate or work together to reinforce and streamline immigration rates in Europe (UN 2009). The joint operations carried out by the member states have led to mobilization of funds, personnel and equipment, which assists in the surveillance of the borders (Monar 2006).
For instance, in terms of equipment, the agency has about 100 water vessels, 30 helicopters and 20 airplanes, which frequently survey the borders (external borders along the sea, land and air) thus, preventing illegal immigration (UN 2009). Furthermore, the agency has European patrols network and border guards who assist in surveying and controlling the entrance of foreigners into the region.
Greece and Turkey as a study case
For instance, in a recent case to curb illegal immigration into Europe through Turkey and Greece, the FRONTEX agency deployed its forces on the borders. According to Pop (2010), Greek is the main entry point of illegal immigrants with a record of 50% recorded in 2010. Therefore, the FRONTEX forces have the mandate to arrest and detain any immigrant who lacks proper documents. In 2010, the border guards intercepted more than 40000 illegal immigrants (Pop 2010).
Similarly Pop notes that through engaging border authorities from different European countries (external borders), FRONTEX curbs illegal entrance of foreigners in member countries (2010). According to the Castles and Miller, the agency also cooperates with the non-member states to ensure that immigrants are unable to access the European countries through them (2009). Therefore, the joint operation that FRONTEX has established with many non-EU countries comes in handy in curbing illegal immigration in the region.
Mechanisms used to give intercept illegal immigrants
Sophisticated equipment and quality training
Secondly, FRONTEX has established special mechanisms and tools to train their personnel especially the forces. With a uniform core curriculum, the agency trains border guards and senior officers from different countries by applying similar standards (Carrera 2007). Therefore, the use of sophisticated tools and technology has enabled the agency guards to be competent thus, working efficiently to stop illegal immigration.
For example, under the umbrella of FRONTEX, the effective guard of the external borders had worked efficiently in preventing both illegal immigration and human trafficking in the region (DeBardeleben and Hurrelmann 2011). Moreover, due to the availability of funds, the guards and the senior officers use the latest technology therefore, enabling them to detain any illegal immigrant.
Therefore, some of the security personnel at the borders include, border guards, armed police, customs officers and national security officers who all fall under the cadre of FRONTEX (Huysmans 2006). Eventually, the effort of the FRONTEX has cut down Europe as the destination of foreigners especially those who lack legal documents.
The concept of IBM in relation to FRONTEX
Control of all external borders
Besides the use of forces to protect the borders, the EU also applies the concept of integrated border management (IBM), which falls under the concept of FRONTEX. IBM, which is under the leadership of FRONTEX, was established in order to curb illegal immigration (Carrera 2007). For instance, one of its policies is to control all the external borders. By using the FRONTEX guards, all the borders are under surveillance/checks.
In addition, there is a criminal intelligence group at the borders, which monitors against the entrance of terrorists, drug dealers and other lawbreakers (Huysmans 2006). Secondly, through cooperation with FRONTEX, IBM detects and investigates all crimes committed at the borders. Consequently, the victims are punishable according to the EU law (UN report 2009).
Thirdly, besides focusing on the borders of EU, the agency has also formed networks with other non-EU countries including the third world countries to ensure their borders are under strict surveillance (Monar 2006). This aspect of coordination at both national and international level is to curb illegal entry of foreigners into Europe (Koopmans 2005). Katzenstein writes that the border management system covers all the weak points that reinforce illegal immigration in Europe (2005).
Therefore, the application of a common policy whereby there is cohesiveness in the border control and surveillance system together with inter-agency cooperation is the only way to reduce number of illegal immigrants (Jappke and Morawska 2003). The major strategy IBM and FRONTEX uses, is the efficient application of modern technology to pass information to all border personnel including the national security officers Carrera 200).
More over, according to Carrera, the major objective of IBM that runs together with FRONTEX is the establishment of a uniform immigration policy that coercively manages and fights to combat illegal movement of people across the borders (2007). Commonly referred to as negative mobility or irregular immigration is an inherent step applied by the European Union to combat illegal immigration (Joppke and Morawska 2003).
Although the agency brands illegal immigration with criminal and suspicious terms this act is to ensure or fear off any foreigner who is eyeing the European territory. On the other hand, the union through the FRONTEX has reinforced its security services at the southern maritime borders, which always passed as a loophole in combating illegal immigration (Omolesky 2010).
The operation measures at the maritime borders led to enhancement and commencement of the coastal patrol Network along the Mediterranean Sea and the use of technology in the European surveillance system along the borders. Thus, IBM is an integrated move by the European Union to fight against illegal immigration in the region.
The operations of FRONTEX are highly influenced by the European commission, the member states or during an emergency (Omolesky 2010). For example in early 2010 when Greece and Turkey became the main point of illegal immigration in Europe, the agency posted its guards and equipment to curb the issue. FRONTEX solely depends on the solidarity of the member states to curb illegal immigration.
However, this level of dependence cooperates with the competency and joint operations of the personnel/members especially at the border level (Omolesky 2010). Similarly, FRONTEX has coordinated services with African countries, which lie along the coast. For instance, FRONTEX has now extended its services in Northern and western African coasts. Gran Canary in Las Palmas is the current pivot point where FRONTEX immigration officials conduct their services.
In addition, the centre posses advanced technological features that assist in coordinating, monitoring and analyzing the immigration trends of people in West Africa (Monar 2011).
The technology also tracks the movement of individuals especially foreigners and exchange information with other surveillance teams in countries like Cape Verde or Senegal (Carrera 2007). One of the sophisticated instruments under the FRONTEX is the Sea Horse advanced satellite system, which gives information on the movement of people especially along the borders.
The application of the common integrated risk analysis model to intercept illegal immigrants
The CIRAM model
In his article, Carrera outline the role of FRONTEX as per the CIRAM model (2007). The inclusion of third world countries into the border management strategy is to close any route that may lead immigrants into Europe. Through risk analysis, Frontex is able to curb illegal immigration into Europe (Monar 2006). The intelligence services analyses the situation on all external borders to ascertain the immigration rate.
The security offices of the member states have databases, which the FRONTEX members can retrieve any information regarding the crossing points in the region. Furthermore, the mass media and other communication bodies in the member states offer information regarding the borders, without much resistance. FRONTEX is capable of monitoring the global environment especially those, which can breach the security of Europe.
The common integrated risk analysis model (CIRAM) enables FRONTEX to scrutinize the security level at the border level thus, assessing those, which might pose risks at the external borders. CIRAM usually gathers information regarding security and disseminate it to various players like control authorities, customs personnel, member countries and non-EU cooperating nations (Carrera 2007).
Therefore, the willingness to cooperate between the member states and the FRONTEX authorities has enabled the agency to curb the illegal immigration rate in the region. FRONTEX is the centre of communal cooperation and data sharing especially when it comes to the issue of border management thus, enhancing security within its member countries (Anderson 1996). The research docket is among the departments established by FRONTEX.
Through academic and excellent research, the agency brings together a team of European border control skilled personnel to assist in running their tasks. The highly skilled-trained personnel work in hand with the technological facilities to run the borders thus, ensuring they combat illegal immigrants entering the region. Therefore, the collective use of personnel’s, technology and equipment is a move that has effectively enabled the region to reduce the cases of illegal immigration.
FRONTEX operation strategy
FRONTEX has an emergency team, which is always on alert incases of crisis (Monar 2006). The European border guards carry the responsibility of responding rapidly incase a problem arises on the border. Besides the use of pooled resources, the agency has an advanced database and equipment, which gives efficient results.
Furthermore, according to Monar, there are special human resources services and technical equipment in all countries, which fall under the cadre of European Union (2006). All the aforementioned groups undergo training to prepare them incase there is a crisis regarding immigration at the external borders.
Depending on the qualification and the level of the officer, the training can be at low, medium or high level (Monar 2011). This step falls under both FRONTEX and the European Union whose main aim is to stop illegal immigrants from accessing the territory of Europe.
Deportation
Geddes cites that FRONTEX also cooperates with the member states to deport individuals who are within European soils illegally (2008). Commonly referred to as return operations, most member states decide to return foreigners back to their countries immediately after failing to provide valid documents or fulfilling the legal check process (Monar 2006).
Although most European countries grant illegal foreigners the chance to return voluntarily to their mother countries, some decline to comply with the rules thus, leading to deportation. Consequently, the FRONTEX member states assist in the cost incurred during such occasions as per the policy (Geddes 2008).
According to Van den Anker and Van Liempt research, FRONTEX has to ensure that during deportation, the fundamental rights of the European Union and Human rights of the deportee are complied with especially during the movement (2011). The joint operation by the FRONTEX member states to run deportation services is to ensure that there are no foreigners without valid documents in the region. Eventually, this act curbs illegal immigration into Europe
Free exchange of information within member states
The concept regarding information system and the sharing of environment ensures that all countries within the European Union are under strict survey (Anderson and Apap 2002). For instance, Apap and Carrera assert that the agency monitors information relating to the current security and political status in the member countries or the affairs of the external borders (2003). The emerging risks, situation at the border points are some of the information the body exchanges with its member countries.
FRONTEX has developed operational information system regarding the external borders therefore; each country freely exchanges its information without much scrutiny or obstacles. The coordination network system curbs illegal immigration in Europe. To maximize their operations, FRONTEX also collaborates with the border-control authorities of non-EU/Schengen countries especially those within transit routes where foreigners can access Europe (Zimmerman 2005).
Some of these countries have been identified as regions where irregular immigration is on high rate. Therefore, the collaboration with other countries ensures smooth exchange of information regarding the movement of foreigners. The collaboration is always according to the European Union external policy.
However, all these efforts are to combat illegal immigration into Europe by covering up all the accessible routes. Therefore, FRONTEX functions as a platform or centre where information regarding immigration into Europe undergoes scrutiny through assessment, monitoring, evaluation and eventually implementation.
Collaboration with other European/international agencies
Political researchers like Apap (2004) write that the policy of FRONTEX is in line with Freedom, security and justice therefore, agency works together with various institutions. Therefore, to accomplish its mandate FRONTEX works with other agencies such as the European Law Enforcement Agency (Europol), The European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit (EASO) Eurojust , European Union Agency for Fundamental rights (FRA) and European police college (CEPOL) among others (UN 2009).
CEPOL works together with all the law enforcers (police) all over Europe (UN 2009). As per the European commission, through CEPOL all, the senior police officers have to maintain and to promote border cooperation in order to ensure there is security and law/order all over the region (OECD 2008). CEPOL officers also cooperate with the border guards to combat illegal immigration through arresting foreigners who do not hold valid documents.
FRA protects the right of European citizens and through this; it prevents illegal entry of foreigners. Maintenance of security and public order are among the European rights the agency promotes. Thus, when it collaborates with FRONTEX the two bodies ensure that illegal immigrants do not access the European soil. Europol maintains law and order throughout Europe and thus, it has the right to arrest foreigners who are in Europe illegally.
The major reason behind the establishment of FRONTEX is the high rise of terrorist groups, which aim at destroying Europe. Therefore, when Eurojust collaborate with Frontex the two groups reinforce their activities against serious crimes. Consequently, combating illegal immigration in the region is among the mandate the agencies. Similarly, FRONTEX collaborates with international organizations like United Nations Human rights (UNHCR), UNODC, ICMPD and Interpol among others.
The role of Schengen countries in relation to FRONTEX
Schengen countries comprise both the EU and non-EU countries, which collaborate with FRONTEX forces to curb illegal immigration within Europe especially along the external borders. The Schengen area controls about 42 000km sea land on the external borders and about 9000km of land area (Monar 2011).
Similarly, there are no internal borders within this area but the external borders are under strict surveillance. The Schengen countries have a Border Code that requires the members to implement external borders located at the sea, land and air (Weber and Pickering 2011).
The tightened security at external frontiers functions to stop illegal immigration in Europe. All the Schengen countries have established regular border patrol. On the other hand, FRONTEX comes in hand whereby its responsibility is to deploy both technical equipment and human resources especially areas, which are experiencing high level of illegal immigration.
Use of annual reports before operations
Due to increased level of insecurity Schierup et al writes that usually, FRONTEX operations are not only intelligence driven but also planned based on the annual risks reports (2006). According to Carrera, the report analyses and releases reports on the areas, which are at risk or may be under attack in the future especially in terms of cross-border crime from foreigners (2007).
Through prioritization their operations, the agency not only pools resources but also proposes collective responsibility that ensures there is effective response during crisis (Katzenstein 2005). In addition, there is an annual general meeting and consultation before commencement of any operations.
Incase of a crisis FRONTEX assembles the security personnel in the host countries together with its border guards to assess their expertise and availability of equipment to assist in the operation. Among the experts used by the FRONTEX are the persons to identify false documents from foreigners, border checks, experts to survey the borders and dog experts to assist in arrest any foreigners who are drug peddlers (Debardeleben and Hurrelmann 2011).
Transport equipment for example helicopters, cars and planes survey the borders to ensure immigrant pass unnoticed or without undergoing scrutiny. Sometimes there is the use of heart beat detector, which measures the calmness of any immigrant thus, assessing their sincerity. All members have to decide on, which way to assist or their contribution in terms of joint operation especially during a crisis.
FRONTEX functions on an operation plan that outlines the aim and eventually the outcome. Relying on an operation in Italy Omolesky gives the way the FRONTEX agency functions. For instance, before any operation, debriefers conduct surveillance and interview migrants in order to collect information especially regarding human trafficking or networks, which are smuggling foreigners into the country (Omolesky 2010).
Surprisingly, the agency also employs debriefers depending on the social and cultural practices of the country, which is in crisis. Therefore, the migrants have the option to give information in their mother tongue without much effort (Lahav 2006). This ensures the migrants express themselves adequately without the element of language barrier coming up. All officers and personnel involved in the operation have to follow strictly the rules and policies of Frontex, human rights and fundamental rights of the European Union.
For effective and efficient operations, the guest officers carry both identification documents and have uniforms including a badge especially during an external mission (OECD 2008). They also have to operate under the local authority. The Schengen Borders Code controls all the border guards who have to view, interview, survey and authenticate or stamp all the documents presented by any immigrant (Carrera 2007).
Besides the officers, observing a uniform code of conduct, they work under the protection of the human rights law and the fundamental rights of the European Union. Eventually after an operation, there is evaluation and production of a report, which assess the impact of the duty/operation (UN 2009). The aforementioned structure and function of FRONTEX enables the European countries to curb and control all migration rates in the region.
In conclusion, according to Mitsilegas et al illegal immigration is a problem that is still affecting the social, economic and political development of Europe (2003). However, the adoption of the FRONTEX agency in 2005 has assisted the region in curbing illegal immigration. Through cooperation, FRONTEX has assembled human resource, equipment and pooled funds to assist in running the external borders.
Among the model applied is the CIRAM, which efficiently enable the region to survey and monitor the movement of foreigners. Furthermore, the cooperation with other third world countries has also assisted the agency in fighting illegal immigration. Finally, the collaboration with other international agencies has also ensured that FRONTEX upholds human rights, security and public order in the region especially during its operations.
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