Comments on: How Undocumented Immigrants Survive in Europe

By: Samuel

Samuel — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:09:24 +0000

Hey,

We have a small web series looking at people of African descent in Europe(Paris and Berlin now, more to come). You can find it at: http://betabahil.com/blog/tag/where-my-people-at/.

Best,
Samuel

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:03:41 +0000

@Darius: The idea that ignorance is no defense takes on a sharp new meaning abroad. If you don’t take the time to learn what you have access to, can do, are capable of doing and so on and so forth, sadly no one abroad has the time to tell you.

Thanks for sharing.

By: Darius Stone

Darius Stone — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:50:04 +0000

Thanks Mwangi and Carol…

I took the liberty of sharing the podcast. I know for sure the story in the Netherlands is not unique, and the one thing that is common is that many undocumented folks don’t have a clue of the rights they have even though they’re undocumented.

Access to housing, healthcare and education (for immigrant children) is a fundamental human right that supercedes immigration status – but unfortunatley, not many people understand this or even know how to access these services. Being “underground” has the unfortunate consequence of Keeping you in the dark.

I’d be happy to give you a UK perspective on the subject areas you cover – both from the point of view of my experience of what people encounter, and what help is actually out there.

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:47:45 +0000

@solomonsydelle: And an even happier one to you

By: solomonsydelle

solomonsydelle — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:43:34 +0000

Happy new year to you!

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:41:53 +0000

@Carol: Indeed, if there is one idea that is absolutely cornerstone as far as I’ve seen for immigrants to adpot is, ” If you’re abroad and nothing is happening! Absolutely no one will make it happen for you. They are too busy with their own problems in their corner.”

Feel free to take the recording and send it to people who might not be so aware of their rights or just keep doing what you’re doing i.e. telling folks what their rights are.

By: Carol Achieng Otieno

Carol Achieng Otieno — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:32:37 +0000

Hey Mwangi,

Hope you enjoyed your Christmas. Mine was ok, and I’m hoping for better things for the New Year. It’s today that I finally got to hear the podcast. I’m hoping that someone somewhere learnt something.
I got into a discussion group recently for women who are undocumented and had children here in the Netherlands and I was really mortified to hear what some women have gone through. Many undocumented women who are pregnant do deliver the child at home just because they are afraid of being arrested!! I met a lady who delivered all her three children at home, and another who keeps her 4 year old child at home because she is scared the police will arrest her if she takes the child to school. These women did not know the rights they had to give birth to the children in a hospital or to take the child to school which is free. It was good to have this information passed on to them, and as well get them connected to social or church-based organizations that can further assist them. I as well realized that here if you do not know what rights you have no one is going to tell you, you just have to keep on asking and pushing.

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:40:09 +0000

@Caustic: Looking forward to the expouding

By: Caustic Blonde

Caustic Blonde — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:59:32 +0000

This is a curious subject and one I have seen in the United States first hand, though I am sure some things would be different from the European experience I would imagine the long term effects would pretty much be the same. Maybe I will expound at a later date.

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:10:13 +0000

@DreamActivist: Sure, thanks.My contact details are at the top, and they can find me at masmilele[at]thedisplacedafrican[dot]com and we can organize a time.

Lemme know…..