Asylum system has become a facilitator for chaotic migration, says former UDI director

The current asylum system inadvertently acts as a facilitator for chaotic migration into Europe, according to Frode Forfang, former director of Norway's Directorate of Immigration. He argues that the system is exploited by individuals whose primary goal is to enter Europe for work, not necessarily to seek asylum.

Forfang points to the recent influx of tens of thousands of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta as an example. He explains that while the immediate triggers for such events may not be fully understood, the underlying migration pressure on Europe is constant. The success rate of migrants entering Europe, he contends, is the primary factor influencing the flow, not changes in conditions in their home regions.

He elaborates that these migrants are not typically fleeing persecution but are aiming to reach Spain or other European countries to work, often hoping for eventual residency. The asylum system, despite not being their primary goal, becomes the perceived pathway. Forfang stresses that turning them away immediately is complicated by the legal rights they acquire upon setting foot on Spanish soil, including the right to have their asylum claims processed under international law.

This situation underscores the importance of robust border controls, Forfang argues. While an ideal world might allow free movement, the reality necessitates controls to manage migration flows that would otherwise be unsustainable and politically unacceptable. He draws parallels to the 2015 migration crisis, where a perceived collapse in border controls led to a "rush effect" as hundreds of thousands of migrants seized the opportunity to enter Europe.