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The political situation in North Africa and the Middle East has already led to greater migration to Western Europe, with Western European countries reacting differently, and often very defensively to the (potential) influx of refugees and others. Many of these countries have had individual agreements with Libya, for example, to restrict and prevent migration from countries further South. The current political upheaval makes those countries unable, or unwilling, to police and enforce such agreements. As a result, some EU member states have begun to close their borders to their neighbors, endangering a core concept of the European Union.
This situation presents an interesting contrast -- or analogy -- to the U.S. response to immigration resulting from the current violence in Mexico, potential political change in Cuba, and environmental and human rights problems in Haiti. Similarly, Canada has been faced with the influx of boat people who have been fleeing political oppression or economic deprivation farther away. The political and legal response has also often been to restrict access.
What could the United States, Canada and Western Europe learn from each other regarding their responses to these situations? What best legal practices could they develop in addressing such situations before they arise? How have human rights considerations, including refugee protection, impacted political and legal decision-making in these different situations?
Business Meeting at Program Conclusion.