dw.com
"Invisible Migration: 26,534 Illegal Border Crossings Recorded in Croatia in 2024"
"Croatia, a Schengen Area member since January 2023, recorded 26,534 illegal border crossings in the first ten months of 2024, primarily from Afghanistan, Syria, Turkey, Russia, and Egypt; however, migrants largely maintain a low profile due to the risk of arrest and pushbacks, resulting in 'invisible migration'."
- "How do the differing levels of risk in neighboring countries affect migrants' visibility and behavior within Croatia?"
- "While migrants are highly visible in neighboring countries like Bosnia and Italy, Croatia's stricter enforcement, including the risk of imprisonment and pushbacks, forces migrants to remain hidden. This has resulted in a phenomenon of 'invisible migration', where migrants' presence is evidenced primarily through abandoned belongings found near borders.",
- "What is the scale of illegal migration through Croatia, and how does the country's response contribute to the invisibility of these migrants?"
- "In the first 10 months of 2024, Croatia recorded 26,534 illegal border crossings, mostly from Afghanistan, Syria, Turkey, Russia, and Egypt. Despite this, migrants maintain a low profile in Croatia, quickly passing through on their way north, leading to their limited visibility within the country.",
- "What are the long-term implications of Germany's planned migrant returns for Croatia's migration management capacity and its relationship with the EU's migration policies?"
- "Germany's plan to return 16,000 migrants to Croatia under the Dublin III Regulation highlights the potential strain on Croatia's resources. Croatia's cooperation with this regulation, despite the high number of migrants passing through, indicates a complex interplay between EU migration policy and the realities of managing irregular migration.",
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing emphasizes the negative aspects of the migrant journey and Croatia's role, particularly highlighting the dangers, illegal pushbacks, and the "invisible migration." The use of phrases like "brutality of the European border regime" and focusing on abandoned belongings creates a strong emotional response that may overshadow more neutral reporting on the situation. The headline (if there was one) likely would further reinforce this negative framing.
Language Bias
The article uses loaded language such as "brutality," "illegal," and "drownings." These words evoke strong emotional responses and contribute to a negative portrayal of the situation. More neutral alternatives could include "harsh measures," "irregular border crossings," and "deaths in rivers." The repeated emphasis on hidden and dangerous aspects of migration also contributes to a biased tone.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the challenges and dangers faced by migrants, but it omits details about the assistance offered by Croatia or other EU nations. The perspective of Croatian citizens and their experiences with the migrant population is also largely absent, leading to an incomplete picture. While acknowledging space limitations is important, this omission creates a skewed narrative.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat false dichotomy by portraying Croatia's actions as either completely brutal or entirely cooperative, without exploring the complexities of the situation or acknowledging nuances in the government's policies. The descriptions of pushbacks as "brutal" and illegal, without providing counterarguments or context from the Croatian government, simplifies a multifaceted issue.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights illegal pushbacks of migrants at the Croatian border, which violate EU law and international human rights standards. The practice of pushbacks undermines the rule of law and fair treatment of asylum seekers, thus negatively impacting SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The use of "seven-days papers" and their subsequent use for deportation also raises concerns about due process and fair treatment.