As a person against all of Trump's proposals to limit immigration from certain countries, his proposals to build a wall to prevent illegal immigration, his promises to deport illegals, I'm curious how you, a resident of Hungary, feel about Hungary's PM wanting to deport illegal migrants and asking the EU do the same. Goes against everything you rail against.
Alright Tim, I'll try to answer in kind.
Hungary has indeed built a wall on its southern border and has taken a tough stance on migrants that have passed through Europe this past year.
On paper, that sounds reasonable. But let's look at the situation in more detail. First, we need to clarify a few things:
1. Muslim fanatics - the likes of which are sympathetic to ISIS/Al Queda - have been living throughout Europe for decades. It's been widely reported that there are neighborhoods in Belgium, France, Germany and elsewhere where so-called sleeper cells have been active for many, many years.
2. Due to the Shengen agreement, there is free movement within EU borders. So if you go from say Hungary to Austria, then to Czech Republic, then to Poland, then to Germany, then over to France, you will not be stopped at the border, you can just drive right on through, pretty much like crossing State lines in the US. Thus any terrorists, or terrorist sympathizers already in Europe have free movement where ever they want to go.
3. The mass exodus of people from war torn Syria and Afghanistan and the rest of the middle east is a human catastrophe, with thousands of people, women and children, perishing on the way. Within these masses of legitimate migrants, surely, there have been terrorists that have tried to come through in all the confusion. My estimate would be off the top of my head, 90% legitimate people in dire straights, risking life and limb to enter Europe and 10% criminals, terrorists mingling in the masses.
4. Terrorist operatives are much more easily flown in to airports all over Europe. It is a verifiable fact that hundreds, maybe thousands of EU citizens flew into Syria, Iran and Iraq these past few years, then flew right back to Europe with impunity. This is a critical failing of border control and policing that has allowed this to happen.
5. Back to the wall that Orban had built. This is a chain link fence, with barbed wire, that did slow the influx of 'legitimate' refugees last year. They were forced to head to neighboring countries to try to make it through.
6. The net-net result has been mainly superficial, something that reads well in the press and appeals to constituents, that he's 'keeping Hungary safe'
7. The truth of the matter is that thousands of needy families, women, children and non-terrorist refugees have been kept out of the country. Mind you, none of these people were ever interested in coming to Hungary to begin with, the country just happened to be on the map on the way to Western Europe.
8. Terrorism and support for ISIS remains as big of a problem as ever here and elsewhere in Europe. Those with nefarious plans have been, and will continue to stir the witches' brew. The fence on the southern border did little to nothing to move the needle in this regard.
9. I have no good answer on what to do in a mass migration situation as what is happening currently. Clearly, it is not an option to let a country, any country, be overrun at the borders.
10. There should be, in my mind, some sort of compassion for the fate of legitimate refugees from war torn countries. My parents both escaped a life or death situation and were welcomed in (to the US) with open arms. So I do feel some moral obligation in a situation like this. It is also a tenet of Christianity to welcome in those in need.
All in all I have nothing against border control and building fences to secure borders. But I disagree with turning the issue into a hot button topic to help people get elected, or to keep people in power. I strongly oppose the type of populist message this anti-immigrant stance has become, here in Hungary, and in the US. The parallel with Trump building his wall on the border with Mexico is given. There's no good reason we shouldn't have secure borders, to the south and the north. If it takes a massive, multi-billion dollar wall - and we have the resources for it - then build a wall. I have no problem with that. But make sure to keep things in perspective as far as what it is we expect to achieve once we've built the wall. The populist slogan will wear off, sooner or later. Will no drugs enter the country after that point? There will no longer be criminals and illegals entering the US? Really?
I guess I just got turned off by the simplicity of Trump's message. Much like Orban Viktor here in Hungary. A wall, in itself, no matter how long, no matter how tall, is not an end-all to the problems we face.
