Sat, May 26 2012

Roma deportations raise ‘red flag’

Fri, Aug 27 2010 09:01 CET byTheodore Shaw 1657 Views
While many nations are concerned about immigration and illegal immigrants, this reaction is targeted at a particular group and it raises echoes of a long history of discrimination.

Violence against Roma is already all-too-commonplace, particularly in Eastern European countries. Could this exacerbate the problem? Sure.

If the government is targeting Roma, then others who are already engaged in xenophobia and hatred are going to feel more empowered.

France does have laws requiring permits, but this is focused on a particular group. It is not a general crackdown on people who do not have permits. Immediately, I think red flags ought to go up. People should see this as dangerous in its implications.

Regarding a possible European Union response,my guess is that in today’s climate, with everything else that is going on, I think there’s a legitimate concern that there may not be an appropriate response.

What about the argument that many of those deported will make their way back?This plays on all kinds of stereotypes about Roma, who they are, whether they are desirable or not. Whether they come back doesn’t mitigate what is going on.

 

Theodore Shaw
Columbia Law School Professor
Former executive director of the NAACP Legal Defence Fund

 

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