National Coalition Party (NCP) Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s coalition partner, the radical-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)*, is going all out to make life as miserable as possible for migrants, especially asylum seekers and undocumented migrants.
PS Interior Minister Mari Rantanen has threatened to take “a radical shift” in asylum policy and undocumented migrants. In her opinion, if an asylum seeker does not get a residence permit, that person must leave the country.
Their policies are based on racist hearsay and their policies are a direct stake to the heart of many migrants aiming to survive in an ever-difficult and hostile Finland.
The story of an Iraqi family who came in 2015 is a case in point.
After waiting for eight years for a residence permit, three of their children, who are now adults, appear to be “safe” since they have studied, graduated, speak Finnish and have employment.
The story is different for their teenage child, mother and father, who haven’t landed a job and speak a little Finnish. All three are in danger of being deported to Iraq.
Source: Google Slides
“It’s so unfair,” said the Iraqi asylum seeker who has lived under uncertainty for the past eight years in Finland. “Where are my human rights? It may be that part of my family will live in Finland, and we’ll be sent back to Iraq, where our lives are in danger.”
Such cruelty from the government, especially from Interior Minister Rantanen, is no solution unless you want to hide your head in the sand. .
