Scholars at UCSB’s global studies department contend that the European Union and Turkey migration deal addressing the refugee crisis in Greece is not only illegal under international law and unworkable, but also fueled by far-right nationalism in Europe and rising xenophobia.
Effective March 20, the deal says for every Syrian the E.U. sends back to Turkey, a Syrian in Turkey is resettled to Europe; it caps the number of Syrians allowed to enter Europe from Turkey at 72,000. Around 200 have been sent back to Turkey thus far. Close to 60,000 refugees are currently in Greece, where over 500,000 landed in 2015.
According to the UCSB Current, global studies associate professor Paul Amar disagrees with the notion that Syria’s horrific civil war has caused the refugee crisis and subsequent border restrictions.