UN Refugee Agency Head Claims Strong Border Controls Are ‘Racist’

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has claimed that governments enacting strong border controls to prevent illegal immigrants from entering their countries are doing so due to racism.

Grandi spoke at an event in Italy, stating that he was shocked at the difference in European countries’ attitudes toward those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and migrants coming to Europe from different parts of the world.

“I am not shocked by the statement that Ukrainians are refugees that are easier to host, due to geographical and cultural proximity,” he said, adding: “I am shocked by those who say that Ukrainians are real refugees and others are not,” the European Union-funded website InfoMigrants reports.

According to Grandi, countries that want to be tougher on illegal immigration are motivated by racism, saying that “for the others, the response is restrictive legislation, barbed wire, naval blockades and pushbacks. This is racism. We have the legal and moral duty to welcome [migrants].”

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