There are several centers in Ukraine where illegal migrants are held, but the biggest one was established in 2002 in Pavshyn, a village in the Transcarpathian region (Zakarpattia). As of Oct. 17, the new center can accommodate up to 320 people. For border guards the enlarged dormitory is a significant event because there are few centers like this in Ukraine. As recently as a couple of years ago the temporary housing of an illegal migrant was a problem in Pavshyn: the original center was designed for 150 people, and it was often severely overcrowded. According to information provided by the State Border Service, the number of migrants who intend to cross our borders illegally remains constant: between 7,000 and 8,000 people. As a rule, they come from Southeast Asia. They use Ukraine as a transit area, because their main destination is Europe. In the following interview Andrii DEMCHENKO, a mass media and public relations officer employed by the State Border Service of Ukraine, provides details of the work with illegal migrants.
What does the enlarged dormitory mean to the border guards?
“These kinds of establishments that house people who violate Ukrainian border laws are located along the entire border, but the largest one is in Pavshyn. Since the beginning of the year 1,090 people have passed through this small town [sic]. These people either tried to cross the border illegally or were detained while crossing it. They will stay in this place until their further destiny is decided either by means of a court judgment, deportation, or granting of refugee status. Until recently 250 people could be housed in the center for illegal migrants, but there was a need to accept more people, who illegally cross the Ukrainian border. So we have increased the number of places to 320. At the moment there are 280 illegal migrants here. They are mainly from India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.”
How do they get to Ukraine?
“If you look at the various ways people cross our borders, people from Vietnam, for example, try to get into Ukraine legally: they come to study, obtain medical treatment, or visit relatives or acquaintances; they find various reasons. Afterwards they move to Transcarpathia and try to cross the border into Europe. Thus, Transcarpathia is the center to which all illegal migrants flock in order to attain ‘European happiness.’”
Under what conditions do they stay and for how long?
“Two or three times a week employees of the State Committee on Nationalities and Minority Affairs from Uzhhorod visit the detainees. In order to identify each migrant, border guards correspond with the embassies of the countries from which they have come. Diplomats make inquiries in their native countries. Sometimes they have to wait a long time for an answer. At the detainees’ request they receive applications for refugee status. If a foreigner applies for refugee status, the following system starts to work: if s/he receives refugee status, s/he can move about freely in Mukachiv. Communication with detainees is often hindered by language problems, and money — paying for an interpreter — is an obstacle. If illegal migrants do not request refugee status, deportation takes place: they are put on a plane and sent back to their country. On average, the process of reaching a decision concerning the further destiny of a migrant takes nearly three months.”
What is the main goal of illegal migrants in Ukraine?
“They want to find a job; they want to have a better life in Europe. Most migrants — nearly 75 percent — use Ukraine as a transit area. They arrive in small groups: two or three people come under some legal pretext. If, for instance, they cross the Russian part of the border (a large number of migrants come from there) with the necessary documentation — to study, visit, etc. — we have no right to detain them. After entering Ukraine, they try to cross the border in Transcarpathia illegally. As a rule, their routes lead to Poland, Slovakia, or Hungary. These are mainly young men. The trend of illegal crossings of Ukrainian borders is stable. In comparison to previous years, it is even somewhat decreasing.”
