A decade has passed since Europe's migrant crisis began, yet the continent remains deeply divided over immigration policies that have transformed smuggling networks into increasingly powerful criminal enterprises.
The Hardening of Fortress Europe
Ten years ago, thousands of people fleeing war, persecution and poverty sought refuge across European nations. Today, migration continues to represent one of Europe's most polarising political issues.
Across the continent, anti-immigrant policies have significantly hardened, with physical border walls erected and new barriers – both visible and invisible – continuing to appear. This defensive posture has created what many now call 'Fortress Europe'.
Dangerous Consequences for Migrants
As European nations strengthen their borders, migrants find themselves forced onto increasingly perilous routes in their search for safety. The very policies designed to deter migration have inadvertently created more hazardous journeys.
The Guardian's European community affairs correspondent Ashifa Kassam and video journalist Frances Rankin recently travelled to the edges of Fortress Europe to document what a decade of tightening migration policy means for people currently on the move.
Strengthening the Criminal Networks
Ironically, the smuggling gangs that EU politicians claim they want to dismantle have grown more powerful than ever. The increased difficulty of crossing borders has driven migrants directly into the hands of these criminal networks, who can charge higher prices for their services.
The result is a vicious cycle where stricter border controls create more demand for smugglers, who in turn develop more sophisticated methods to evade detection, prompting even tighter security measures.
This complex situation demonstrates how immigration policies can have unintended consequences, often strengthening the very criminal enterprises they aim to eliminate while putting vulnerable migrants at greater risk.
