Immigration laws: Europe’s new heart of darkness
Last week, The Independent dropped a bombshell report on Switzerland’s new immigration laws, exposing their blatant racism and injustice.
Reporter Paul Vallely even wondered if Switzerland had become “Europe’s heart of darkness.” Whatever the case, neo-fascism is trending in Switzerland — with politicians competing in a race to the bottom of intolerance.
Hell, even during Hitler’s rise, German politicians didn’t outdo Brownshirts in fascist zeal. But that’s how sharp a right turn purportedly neutral Switzerland is now taking.
The UN is alarmed, particularly by provisions to deport the entire family of any criminal under 18 upon sentencing. That’s family values, Swiss style!
The toughest naturalization rules
Switzerland’s draconian immigration laws match its byzantine naturalization rules, making applicants jump more hurdles than 3000m steeplechasers. Specifically, they must legally reside in the country for at least ten years, pay taxes, and maintain a spotless criminal record. But that’s not all, folks.
Applicants must legally reside in Switzerland for at least ten years, pay taxes, and maintain a spotless criminal record. But wait, there’s more! They must speak one of Switzerland’s national languages and embrace Swiss customs. Local communes add their own hoops, grilling applicants on language skills, job status, and even their yodeling prowess.
Yet, despite these hurdles, over 20% of Switzerland’s population and 25% of its workforce are legal immigrants. Moreover, Switzerland boasts a booming economy with enviably low unemployment and a per capita GDP that leaves most Western economies eating its dust. The playbook for silver linings in draconian immigration laws?
The hypocrisy of security claims
Swiss officials claim these laws are “For More Security.” Yet, violent crime in Switzerland is as rare as a sober reveler at Oktoberfest. When violence does occur, it usually flares up between immigrants.
Clearly, only good old-fashioned racism explains the xenophobia now coursing through Switzerland.
The Swiss will soon realize that deporting essential workers is like cutting off their nose to spite their face. Critics call America’s immigration reform plan racist and unjust. What, pray tell, will they think of this Swiss formula?
Europe’s anti-immigrant trend: a new Iron Curtain
With all due respect to his report, Vallely is wrong to portray Switzerland’s anti-immigration stance as a new trend in Europe. Over two years ago, I highlighted how nearly every European country was tightening immigration to fend off supposed threats from Asian, Turkish, Balkan, and African refugees.
In “The Plague of Haitian Migrants in the Caribbean” (March 31, 2005), I presaged Switzerland’s radical turn from liberal to restrictive immigration laws. It just highlights the extreme nature of this turn that it’s raising alarm even in increasingly xenophobic Europe.
So, when it comes to immigration, Switzerland is just leading Europe’s dark heart. Swiss voters have embraced this role, with 67.8% ratifying laws restricting refugee assistance and blocking unskilled workers from non-European countries.
However, it behooves Hitler’s reformed bankers to consider the international ramifications of now acting as his political heirs.
Sarah says
As an American student studying in Switzerland, I don’t have any problem comprehending the reasons the Swiss want to reduce immigration. When a fifth to a quarter of your population and work force aren’t ethnically tied to your country, it almost feels like you aren’t living in your country. Perhaps the Swiss are afraid of change, but for good reason. They’ve gone centuries without a civil war (or any war for that matter), so their political systems seem to work for them. It seems a stretch to accuse the Swiss of fascism and Nazism when they are the epitome of democracy. The Swiss people vote four times a year…for policies and ideas, and not for people. Majority rules, plain and simple. They don’t have any of the ridiculous election crap that plagues American democracy. Just because the Swiss are sticking to what works in a time when much of the rest of the world is falling apart doesn’t make them rascist haters. Perhaps it’s out of jealousy of their economy and ability to maintain peace that we are so quick to criticize. While I don’t agree with the racism rampant in the recent political campaing with the image of the sheep, if it works and keeps all of the SWISS happy, the Swiss are, afterall, the most important people in Switzerland. Remember, if Switzerland were to freely open its boarders to anyone who wanted to live here permanently, they’d be so flooded with immigrants that the country’s infrastructure would collapse. So, yes, the racism in their modern politics is wrong, but no, Switzerland is not the heart of darkness in Europe, nor is it becoming that. As long as people still want to move here, the country must still be radiating light.
Martin says
I am Swiss and my father is an immigrant. I live here in (Zurich) Switzerland in a middle class apartment house, seven apartments, together with first generation immigrant families from Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Kosovo. Although there are relevant cultural differences we all learned to live together and to use the same washing machine in the basement and so on. There are no ghettos in Switzerland, even with the fact, that 21 per cent of the population are immigrants with no Swiss citizenship. It is no wonder that, as you say: “a thriving economy” attracts people from other countries. The Swiss just have a pristine fear of foreign rule, just study Swiss History. This is not racism.
PAT says
I like this idea. What’s split the United States so badly is the immigrants who come to this country and don’t want to immerse.
As for losing the workers who are immigrants, I’m sure that they come there knowing full well if they break the laws of the country they are out on their keesters!!! Instead, the United States now protects the bad and shoves the victims aside. Prisoners have so many amenities these days–I don’t even know why they’d even want to break out.
Steven says
There was no horror in Europe, Europeans (with the exceptions of the money making elite) think this is a great idea! Europe does not want America’s multiracial model here, why would we want to look like America? The world would be better if America never existed!
Good on the Swiss and I hope it comes to Germany, Britain, France, Spain, Italy and Scandinavia before its too late, enjoy your multiculturalism America it will be your death :)
Helena says
My parents are both immigrants from Poland and we have lived in Switzerland for more than 20 years. I do not believe the Swiss to be racist, nor do I find the expression “dark heart of Europe” applicable. It is not racist to not want criminals in your country and as a guest in a country you should respect its laws and customs. Considering that 71% of imprisoned criminals are foreigners, I do not blame Swiss people to take precautions in order to lower that number. As Switzerland runs on direct democracy, it is also not surprising that you have to wait for your passport for such a long time. One should be well integrated, familiar with the Swiss culture and the political system, in order to enjoy the privilege of voting. We got our passports after 14 years and we celebrated the occasions with many of our Polish and Swiss friends. My family has not given up its Polish ways, but gained a lot in getting to know and to experience Swiss traditions.
It might be also of interest that the right wing party (SVP), which is often the motor behind radical immigration legislation, enjoys a broad support by well integrated foreigners. Mainly, because they themselves feel that criminal foreigners reflect badly on foreigners in general. (Personally, I do not support the party as it is to extreme for my taste).
Switzerland is a country that has much to offer: political stability, a very good public school system, excellent healthcare and in general a very effective public administration. It is a country where public transportation is more widely used than cars and people actually vote for tax increase voluntarily, because they trust their government. If Switzerland offers all that, I do not mind that it requires in return from immigrants to learn one of the official languages, to get accustomed with the political and cultural system, as well as to not abuse the hospitality of the country by criminal activities. I gladly did it and now I am not a foreigner in Switzerland, but I am very happy to call it home.