In The News

Europe Snubs World's Poor

June 23, 2003
The European Union’s (EU) continued reluctance to reform its agricultural subsidies is criticized in this New York Times editorial. After a host of high-profile summit meetings and private conferences, it says, reform plans for Europe's agricultural policies will be "watered down as to virtually meaningless." One of the proposed plans is to reform the subsidy on Europe's cows...

Migrants Tell How Boat Split and Sank off Tunisia

Reuters June 22, 2003
The impact of the economic crisis gripping Africa is washing up on the shores of the Mediterranean. A stream of boats make regular crossings between Africa and nearby Italy, bearing scores of illegal immigrants desperate to escape war-torn countries and faltering economies. The trip is a dangerous one – a boat carrying 250 migrants capsized off Tunisia last week, killing most of the passengers....

Foreign Fighters Add to Resistance in Iraq, U.S. Says

Michael R. Gordon June 22, 2003
During the recent Iraq war, there were reports of foreign fighters sneaking into the country to aid Saddam Hussein’s forces. Now, as the U.S. army struggles to control post-war chaos, American commanders say foreigners are still being recruited by Hussein loyalists. A lack of American presence in some parts of the country has allowed these loyalists, many fueled by the belief that the dictator...

EU Immigration Plans Arouse Debate in Germany

Carola Schlagheck June 20, 2003
Immigration policy is dividing Germany and temporarily stalling the ratification of the European Union’s constitution. Though German Chancellor Schröder supports the draft, his government is deeply divided over two immigration-related proposals – the Greek plan to harmonize immigration and asylum within the EU and the transition to majority voting on certain issues. Opponents of the plan like...

Demos, GOP Joust to Frame a New Policy on Immigration

Gary Martin June 17, 2003
In 2001, illegal immigration came to national attention in the US as the Bush administration began reviewing a proposal for immigration reform that would have permitted illegal workers to remain employed in the US. After Sept. 11, however, Washington's attention turned to security issues, and the proposal was dropped. Now, with the promise of a significant Hispanic electorate in the 2004 US...

Immigrants Here in Record Numbers

Oscar Avila June 16, 2003
The face of the American Midwest is changing. In the past decade, large groups of immigrants have moved into the Chicago metropolitan area. People are coming from around the world, but the largest group has been Mexicans, many of whom are undocumented and poorly educated. Despite their illegal status, these immigrants have made contributions to the economy and reversed Chicago's population...

Push for Rights of Singapore Women's Foreign-born

Chuang Peck Ming June 12, 2003
The proactive, modern women of Singapore are still shackled by obsolete policies, says the government-supported 'Remaking Singapore Committee'. Women and their children are subject to a vast array of double-standards that, they say, are born in the delivery-room and go on to thrive in society. These policies perpetuate the perception that women from Singapore are lesser citizens than...