http://tinyurl.com/2364ce

Interesting article, J.

Yep.
Note that I have made no comment.
Others may make up their own minds.
It's a difficult one.

Switzerland has been called racist because of our SVP views of immigration (eg "black sheep). These views are undoubtedly spreading through Western Europe, as this article shows. It's a shame because most immigrants are hard-working but looking at our prisoners in our Swiss jails, one can't help but see the large amount of foreigners locked up.

Locals fear immigrants because of the possible crime and cultural problems they bring. This is a tough situation that won't go away.

Switzerland has shipped criminals back to their home country but it's so easy to slip through the border and come back in, as we have seen time and time again.

The politicians are grasping at straws trying to find a solution that doesn't look racist and yet protects the local citizens from possible foreign criminals.

Any good ideas?

Just to add:

when we refer to the immigrant problem, we aren't talking about Americans or Western European countries. Many of our problems stem from Ex-yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania and Africa.

Hi S,

>The politicians are grasping at straws trying to find a solution that doesn't look racist and yet protects the local citizens from possible foreign criminals.<

We have the same problem in the US.

Is there evidence that foreign criminals are a disproportionate problem in (choose a country)?

I suggest that the real problem is that people do not like change - period- and rapid change is scary.

It doesn't matter if the influx of foreigners is from another continent, another country or another county in their own state, you will hear the same fears.