Exploiting immigrants: Have we learnt history’s lesson?

IN THE last few days, almost 1,000 migrants were rescued from three overcrowded skiffs off Libya. 

Around 1,500 people were picked up from five boats near the Libyan coast last week. Refugees routinely run the gauntlet from Libya to Sicily to try to reach the EU. It is believed that around 3,500 people drowned trying to make this crossing last year, while more than 170,000 managed to reach Italy.

One of the sad consequences of this entirely human desire to live in a better, safer world is how the fear of immigration is being exploited by politicians in elections across Europe.