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Irregular Migration into and through Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Countries: Legal Perspectives

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[Migration Policy Centre]; [CARIM-South]; CARIM Analytic and Synthetic Notes; 2009/01; Irregular Migration Series; Legal Module
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CHOLEWINSKI, Ryszard, TOUZENIS, Kristina, Irregular Migration into and through Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Countries: Legal Perspectives, [Migration Policy Centre], [CARIM-South], CARIM Analytic and Synthetic Notes, 2009/01, Irregular Migration Series, Legal Module - https://hdl.handle.net/1814/11296
Abstract
This synthesis report aims to provide an overview of the national legal frameworks of 11 Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries addressing irregular migration taking place to and from their territories. The countries under examination are Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey. The unique position in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) is also analyzed. The irregular migration flows into and out of these countries are complex. Most of the countries in question are, to a certain degree, countries of origin, transit and destination. In some instances, irregular migration flows are intertwined with refugee movements, especially from Iraq and sub-Saharan Africa. The legal status of asylum seekers and refugees is far from transparent in a number of these countries and consequently they are often considered to be in an irregular situation. Their status is also bound up with the presence of a large number of Palestinian and Iraqi refugees, especially in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The residence status of Palestinians in the OPT is also unstable. It is worthy to underline that a number of countries in the region have relatively complex and restrictive provisions regarding the access of foreign nationals to the labour market, with the result that migrants are at greater risk of irregularity.

Ce rapport de synthèse offre un aperçu des cadres législatifs nationaux pertinents en matière de migration irrégulière en vigueur dans 11 pays du Sud et de l’Est de la Méditerranée. Les pays analysés sont l’Algérie, l’Egypte, Israël, la Jordanie, le Liban, la Libye, la Mauritanie, le Maroc, la Syrie, la Tunisie et la Turquie.1 1 Il faut noter qu’aucun rapport national n’a été transmis pour l’Algérie et la Libye. La situation très spécifique des Territoires occupés palestiniens est également envisagée. Les flux migratoires au départ et à travers cette région sont complexes. La plupart de ces pays sont, à des degrés divers, à la fois des pays d’origine, de transit et de destination. Dans certains cas, les flux de migrations irrégulières sont mixtes, c'est-à-dire également composés de mouvements de réfugiés, principalement en provenance d’Irak et d’Afrique sub-saharienne. Dans les divers pays d’accueil, le statut légal de ces réfugiés est loin d’être transparent de telle sorte qu’ils sont souvent considérés comme des migrants en situation irrégulière. Leur situation est également influencée par la présence numériquement importante de réfugiés palestiniens et irakiens, principalement en Egypte, en Jordanie, au Liban et en Syrie. Le titre de séjour des Palestiniens dans les Territoires occupés est également précaire. Il faut par ailleurs souligner que la complexité et la sévérité des législations relatives à l’accès au marché du travail d’un certain nombre de pays couverts par le rapport concourent à l’accroissement des situations d’irrégularité.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ...1 2. General Legal Frameworks Governing Entry into, Transit, Residence and Exit from the Territory ...2 3. Categories of Irregular Migrants ... 4 3.1 Migrant Workers ...5 3.2 Asylum Seekers and Refugees ... 8 3.3 Victims of Trafficking ... 12 3.4 The Unique Position of Palestinians residing in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the Situation of Jerusalemites ...14 3.5 Family Members ... 16 3.6 Children ... 16 4. Legal Consequences of Irregularity ... 17 4.1 Sanctions ... 17 4.1.1 Sanctions related to irregular entry, residence and/or exit ... 17 4.1.2 Sanctions related to unauthorized employment ...20 4.2 Detention ...20 4.3 Expulsion/Removal ... 21 4.4 Toleration of Irregular Status ...23 5. Possibilities for Regularization ...23 6. Irregular Migrants and Access to Rights ...26 6.1 Employment Rights ...28 6.2 Social Rights ... 30 6.2.1 Access to health care ... 30 6.2.2 Access to education ... 31 6.2.3 Other social rights: Housing and trade union rights ...32 6.3 Rights of Specific “Migrant” Groups: Domestic Workers ... 32 7. Inter-state Cooperation ... 33 8. Conclusions ... 36 Select General References ...38 Annex ... 39
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Euro-Mediterranean Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration (CARIM)
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