STRASBOURG, France — Europe’s hardening attitudes toward immigration found a voice in the EU Parliament on Wednesday, as legislators passed controversial new rules for expelling illegal immigrants.
The wealthy European Union has seen a spike in tensions with immigrants: Italians blame foreigners for a rise in crime; France is grappling with violence in im migrant-heavy communities; and Belgium has come under criticism for its treatment of foreigners in detention centers.
The EU says the vast majority of the immigrants come to Europe from North Africa, former Soviet countries and the Balkans. For instance, 24,000 sub-Saharan African immigrants were caught trying to reach Spain in 2006 and 10,000 in 2007. In an indication of their desperation, more than 1,000 African immigrants also are believed to have died at sea trying to reach Spain in 2007.
Until now, there has been no common EU policy on expelling illegal immigrants, and detention periods varied.
Under the new guidelines, already approved by EU governments, illegal immigrants can be held in specialized detention centers — not jails — for up to 18 months before being expelled. But EU countries must provide detained immigrants basic rights, including access to free legal advice.
