New Features of Illegal Migration From Sub-Saharan Africa to EU Countries And the USA
The article describes various aspects of illegal migration from Sub-Saharan Africa to the countries of the European Union and the United States of America within the framework of globalisation. The analysis includes objective and subjective causes of illegal migration, present situation and contemporary trends, its specific features, driving forces and experience of combating it by the developed nations. Special attention is given to new features of illegal migration and political dimension of the problem, as well as possible ways to solve it on various levels. It is noted that illegal migration is caused by high unemployment rate and poverty affecting most of population in developing countries. Transnational criminal groups orchestrate illegal migration and have turned it into a very profitable business, as a prospective illegal migrant usually is ready to pay several thousand US dollars for a journey for a better life in a developed country regardless of numerous risks and total uncertainty in future. Some of illegal migrants of African origin travel to the EU on boats and ships through the Mediterranean while other ones try to obtain visas, take flights to Europe or the USA and stay there after expiry of their visas. Illegal migration possesses serious security threats, in particular, to receiving nations, supporting shadow economy and manning criminal gangs. At the same time, illegal migration affects the countries of migrants’ origin by uncontrolled flight of qualified specialists and even “brain drain”. The conclusion is that illegal migration can be effectively fought only by joint effort by the receiving countries and countries of migrants’ origin.