In The News

Germany Deadlocked Over Immigration Policy

Dominic Sachsenmaier August 22, 2003
Economic integration around the world does not necessarily equate to acceptance of multi-culturalism at home. Though German industry and banks straddle the globe, linking countries and societies economically, many Germans are fiercely fighting the influx of foreign influence - particularly through immigration. These Germans feel passionately about preserving a homogenous society and are...

Goodbye America, Hello India

Roger Mitton August 19, 2003
The dotcom boom made California the premier destination of Indians coming to the US. Now that the bubble has burst, however, more and more Indians are reversing their trip, leaving sunny, but jobless California and seeking employment in India. Many of these highly-skilled, expatriate engineers believe that their return home is temporary. "They think they will return later when things get...

Want H1B visa? Come to Gujarat

Tina Parekh August 18, 2003
Many Indians with cash and the right connections are finding it easy to obtain visas – legal or otherwise. According to this article in The Times of India, being denied a visa does not necessarily mean that Indian youths must give up their dreams of working in London or New York. Rather, they are bypassing the checks imposed by immigration authorities and entering "the murky world of fake...

Exploited and Far from Home, Some Au Pairs Are Mistreated

Anna von Münchhausen August 15, 2003
Working and living abroad as an au pair should be an exciting and rewarding experience for young men and women. It gives them the opportunity to stay with a family while they experience an unfamiliar culture. But this very unfamiliarity – so exciting when the au pairs are warmly received – can also leave them vulnerable to abuse. In March 2002, the German au pair market was liberalized and...

Knock, Knock…Who's There? Many Migrants!

Joseph Chamie August 5, 2003
All people have the right to leave their country, writes Joseph Chamie, Director of the United Nations Population Division, but they do not have the right to enter another without permission. As population growth soars in the developing world, this apparent contradiction is creating a dilemma for developed countries, which are being inundated with illegal migrants. According to Chamie, the...

Partner Immigration Bill Arrives in Senate

Ahmar Mustikhan August 4, 2003
A new bill introduced in the US Congress would allow US citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their same-sex domestic partners for immigration purposes. The bill aims to bring the rights of same-sex couples in line with those of opposite-sex couples in permitting the couple to reside together permanently in the US. "Our immigration laws treat gays and lesbians in committed...

A New Era in EU-ASEAN Relations?

Shada Islam July 23, 2003
The two major regional organizations of Asia and Europe are meeting again, this time in Bali, Indonesia. The potential for mutual benefit through increased trade and cooperation between the EU and ASEAN is immense, but Shada Islam wonders if the two regions will be able to realize that potential. Islam, a journalist specializing in EU foreign trade policy, notes that so far there has been...