More Children Seeking Asylum in Finland

Every year, hundreds of children illegally enter Finland seeking asylum – most from conflict zones likes Afghanistan, Iran or Somalia. They leave their families behind, paying as much as US$20,000 to a smuggler and traveling for months to reach their new European home. The government rejects about half of the applications for asylum, but allows a few to stay – at least for a while. The government may grant a temporary resident pass and eventually allows these refugees to apply for “family reunification,” which includes passes for parents and siblings. This article in “Helsingin Sanomat” follows the journey of one child. This process of refugee youths pulling their families into the West has led the Interior Minister to call them “anchor children.” Only a few children manage to reunite with families in Finland, while many more face deportation or die on route. Thousands more cannot afford the trip. Raging conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa present all the risks that accompany large refugee populations, including the anger about disrupted lives. – YaleGlobal