This past month in the Mediterranean’s waters the plight of immigrants/refugees from mainly Africa captured most of the world’s attention, triggering harsh words from European leaders who have threatened to fracture alliances over immigration. Often a polarizing topic in the USA, it's also a fiery issue in Europe...but gets far less media attention. Shunned by other Mediterranean countries, the rescue boat was finally allowed to dock in Spain after lingering for over a week on the high seas. On board were 630 people, including 100 children & 7 pregnant women who claimed they were fleeing from kidnappers, blackmailers, torturers, groups such as ISIS as well as poverty & chronic food shortages. If there were criminals among them, nobody knows for sure. They had been trekking for weeks, some paying to cross in open trucks, having been recruited by shady agencies for nonexistent jobs. Some of those who set out on the journey died along the way as they crossed deserts where temperatures sometimes reached 120 degrees. Wherever they had started from, their first encounter was with Libya, which had accepted billions of Euros from the European Union to secure their borders & coastline against immigrants trying to cross the Mediterranean. Once they reached that virtually lawless country, many of the people landed in filthy detention centers, where they were subjected to beatings & rape, sold as slaves or forced into prostitution until relatives ransomed them. Having scraped together enough to pay smugglers the equivalent of hundreds of dollars for passage to what they thought was a better life, they were sent off on their own in small, overcrowded rubber dinghies with fake life jackets & few supplies, heading theoretically to the door of Europe. In their flimsy vessels, many of those who set out never make it. Hundreds drown every week - some 10,000 perished in the Mediterranean between 2014 & 2016. Doctors Without Borders spotted these people in distress off the coast of Libya (who until recently had been blocking the flow by force), some clinging to the sides of their small rafts & were brought aboard a larger rescue boat...a dangerous operation in which 2 more drowned. They were soon to find out that their long journey was far from over. Italy’s doors were closed - saying they feel abandoned by other countries in the European Union who haven’t helped enough in taking in more illegal immigrants. Many countries have instituted tighter border controls to stem the flow of terrorist attacks. Italy having taken in more than 640,000 people in recent years - more than 14,000 in 2018 alone, directed them to the European island nation of Malta, who likewise refused entry. While the rescuers sent out furious communications about sick & injured passengers in need of food, water & hospitals their pleas were ignored for a week from European nations. Even a brief respite on land before they continued their journey was refused. Italy delivered oranges & water to the dangerously overloaded rescue boat as their military vessels watched from nearby. Spain finally stepped in but very reluctantly allowing them a month or so to get their affairs in order. While they are sympathetic to the plight of these people, having offered medical aid & possible asylum in the past, they are still recovering from their own economic downturn that began a decade ago that sent unemployment up to nearly 30%. Even after their horrifying journey, the majority of the people who reached Spain will be deported back to the countries they first left. Even those whose applications for asylum are deemed credible by the government - typically less than 1/2 who apply - after a year of provided housing, language lessons & a small stipend they are simply cut off to fend for themselves. Their detention centers are also poorly kept & they haven't yet accepted the thousands of Syrian asylum seekers they promised to take in 2 years ago. Meanwhile, the European Union keeps putting off a decision on a comprehensive plan for dealing with illegal immigration. Recently most parliamentarians didn’t bother showing up for the immigration debate or walked out during it. Countries such as Sweden & Germany, who have discovered that less than 10% of recent immigrants had found work, have taken the drastic step of paying these unwanted immigrants to return to their own countries. The staff of Doctors Without Borders expressed their frustration stating "Europe has lost its moral compass". They disputed accusations that their rescue missions only enable & encourage illegal immigrants, saying they were merely a symptom of a failing immigration policy. I know this is long but it's all important to read. Thank you!