Aquarius Disembarks Human Cargo Into Spain’s Asylum System
Spain has offered 45-day permits to refugees and migrants aboard rescue ship the Aquarius. The vessel docked in Valencia on June 17 and those aboard can now claim asylum.
The docking of the Aquarius brings to an end a week-long drama for its passengers, but provides few answers as to where future rescue ships will disembark.
Italy has already told two other rescue missions in the Mediterranean that they will be refused access to Italian ports. A third organization, Sea-Watch, had to decline to take onboard migrants rescued last week by a U.S. navy ship because it had been told it would not be allowed to disembark them in Italy.
The 41 rescued people aboard the USS Trenton were eventually handed over to the Italian coast guard.
Those aboard the Aquarius – and two Italian vessels that assisted its journey to Spain – will get special 45-day humanitarian permits to stay. Meanwhile, Spain’s chief inspector of immigration and border police Bernardo Alonso said they would be able to make asylum claims.
Merkel Fights to Save Coalition Amid Migration Row
German chancellor Angela Merkel is pushing for crisis talks to avert the collapse of her coalition. Merkel faces serious internal divisions over migration ahead of an end of June E.U. leaders summit.
Her coalition partner and sister party to her Christian Democrats, the Christian Social Union (CSU), wants the power to turn away asylum seekers at the border if they have registered in another E.U. country.
The proposals, driven by interior minister Horst Seehofer from the CSU, would split the E.U. even further. A comprehensive reform of the bloc’s complex asylum system is now thought unlikely and the hard-line CSU approach could trigger a domino reaction among other national governments.
The matter was meant to be debated at the leaders’ summit, but the Financial Times reported that an earlier emergency meeting may be convened.
Reporters Find Children Kept in Cages in Texas by Border Patrol
Children are waiting in cages at a U.S. border patrol facility in Texas. Reporters were allowed to visit the site as more border crossers are being held in detention.
The White House is facing rising criticism over separating children from parents at the U.S. border. As well as Democrats, former Donald Trump aide Anthony Scaramucci, U.S. first lady Melania Trump and former first lady Laura Bush all decried the separation policy.
President Trump has sought to blame the separations and detention on his opponents, the Democrats, saying they must support Republican immigration reform bills.
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