In 2015, immigrants arrived in Norway on children’s bicycles and even in wheelchairs. Norwegian law prohibited crossing the border on foot, prompting asylum-seekers to use whatever means they could to travel from Russia to northern Norway. Among the 5,500 asylum-seekers were individuals from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, and 43 other countries. Their presence in this remote area raised questions.
Norwegians expressed suspicion, particularly towards some newcomers who spoke Russian and had lived in Russia. The Police Security Service (PST) theorized that Russia might be using these immigrants to disrupt Norwegian society and strain its welfare system. The situation also had political implications. Norway’s far-right Progress Party, which opposes immigration from the Global South, could exploit the crisis, undermining Norway’s reputation for tolerance and complicating its EU relations. The PST further suspected that some migrants might be gathering intelligence for Russian authorities.
This situation is not unique; countries often use migrants for geopolitical aims. Historically, imperial powers have sent citizens abroad to expand their influence. In the U.S., governors in Texas and Florida have similarly transported refugees to northern cities to create tension and burden local services.
Immigration has become a political tool for far-right groups, fueling economic fears, cultural anxieties, and concerns about welfare systems. Today, the far right is not only using anti-immigration rhetoric but is also turning immigrants themselves into instruments of political strategy.
The Russian Strategy
For Vladimir Putin, encouraging migration into Europe serves multiple purposes. He sees waves of immigrants as a way to challenge EU unity, sparking debates among member states about how to respond. This also strengthens his far-right allies in countries like France and Germany.
Putin’s war against Ukraine, initially aimed at territorial gain, has inadvertently exacerbated immigration issues in the EU. The resulting refugee crisis has not only tested Europe’s commitment to Ukraine but also prompted many Russians to leave their country, reducing opposition to his regime.
Germany has taken in the most Ukrainian refugees, leading to backlash from the far right, which has exploited public discontent to gain electoral success. Meanwhile, a leftist party in Germany has adopted anti-immigrant stances, aligning with pro-Russian sentiments.
Putin also utilizes allies like Belarus. In 2021, the Belarusian government attracted migrants with promises of easy access to Europe, then assisted their attempts to cross into Poland, using refugees as leverage against its neighbors.
A New Route from Latin America
Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega, who has shifted from a leftist past to a repressive regime, has found a novel way to retaliate against U.S. sanctions. His government has relaxed entry requirements for citizens from various countries, allowing around 200,000 migrants to enter Nicaragua and then travel to the U.S. This flow of immigrants, including Nicaraguans fleeing oppression, constitutes a significant part of the surge at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Like Putin, Ortega aims to create discord in the U.S. and compel negotiations that might ease sanctions against him.
The Anti-Immigrant Agenda
Autocrats and right-wing ideologues often oppose diversity, favoring political and ethnic uniformity. They support anti-immigrant policies, even though these can be economically detrimental, especially as many countries face declining birth rates and need immigrant labor.
Historically, autocratic regimes have expelled minorities to create burdens for neighboring countries. Examples include the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and Israel’s actions against Palestinians in the West Bank. The far right uses immigration as a political weapon, framing it as a challenge to national identity and values.
This perspective is part of a broader anti-globalization sentiment, where the West is seen as threatening traditional societies through progressive movements. Immigrants are unfairly portrayed as agents of globalization, despite often fleeing conflict and persecution. As they become pawns in geopolitical struggles, the real issue remains: a fight against international law and human dignity.
This complex landscape illustrates the ways in which immigration is weaponized in political conflicts, revealing the deeper struggles between authoritarian regimes and democratic ideals.
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