Experts said state abuses against refugees and migrants are likely to increase as a result of the new $8 billion EU funding package, which includes more than $200 million for migration control. The deal is part of a part of a broader EU approach of partnering with third countries – many with poor human rights records – to reduce migration.
“These agreements are unlikely to stem the flow [of migrants],” said Hossam el-Hamalawy, an Egyptian journalist and scholar who researches the country’s military and security services. “Instead, they may exacerbate casualties and further empower the already dominant military, which lies at the root of many issues in Egypt.”

Update: Here is an excerpt from an email sent to me by Italian journalist Silvia Tagliabue:

We have had a strong and courageous fight in Brescia city: five immigrants settled up on a crane for 17 days, stopping the building yard of the local underground.
The police crushing has been hard. To help these comrades, others five immigrants climbed up and settled on a tower in Milan since 5th of November.
During a meeting under the tower between the immigrant’s committees of North of Italy, the Egyptian comrades decided to protest outside the Egyptian consulate in Milan because it was collaborating with Italian Government to catch “illegal immigrants” with a trick. In the last few days about ten comrades have been arrested, detained in CIE (Identification and expulsion Center) and deported to Cairo. One of the leader of Brescia protest has been deported yesterday too. His name is Mohammed “Mimmo”. He’s a very brave and generous comrade.

Below is a video where Mimmo was interviewed:

I don’t know anything about Mimmo’s fate, and whether it went smooth for him yesterday at the Cairo International Airport, or was he detained for further interrogation. It’s important however to note, as Sylvia wrote above, that the Egyptian government seems to be involved in helping Italy round up those Egyptians abroad. I still await more info.

For resources and updates on abuses against migrant workers in the Middle East, follow this website.

I never get it. What gives white settlers and migrants in Australia the right to say who enters and who doesn’t to that island?