Nicaraguan FM Slams New
EU Immigration Policy
Nicaraguan Foreign
Minister Samuel Santos
on Thursday slammed the
latest immigration law
of the European Union
(EU), saying it is "a
mistake that implies a
wrong answer to the
world."
Santos' remarks followed
the Nicaraguan
legislature's
condemnation on
Wednesday of the EU's
recently approved
immigration law known as
"Return Directive".
The policy is a serious
violation of human
rights, a parliament
statement said.
South America welcomed
with "generosity and
solidarity" millions of
Europeans migrants in
previous centuries, who
had abandoned their
countries due to
political, economical
and social reasons, the
statement pointed out.
"Personally I consider
it (the new immigration
law) has been Europe's
mistake, I'm sure that
they will correct it, in
its moment," said
Santos.
The new immigration
policy affects not only
millions of Central and
Latin Americans but is
in fact a wrong answer
to the world, he added.
The Return Directive was
approved by the European
Parliament on June 18,
after being endorsed by
interior ministers of
the EU's 27member
countries in Luxembourg
earlier in the month.
Under the tough new
immigration rules,
illegal immigrants will
face up to 18 months'
detention before
deportation and will be
banned from re-entry to
EU countries for up to
five years.
The law, which could
come into force in 2010,
has drawn widespread and
strong criticism from
Latin America.
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