Turning back the boats is only way to stop migrants
I APPLAUD Italy and Malta for refusing to allow a boat carrying more than 600 migrants from Africa to land (“Marooned in blistering heat, migrants given offer of refuge from Spain’s PM”, June 12).
This may sound heartless but for every boat carrying so-called refugees that is given sanctuary many more will set sail. As we have already seen, a great number will perish because the boats will be overloaded and many will not be seaworthy.
In offering sanctuary, Spain’s PM has given yet another signal to thousands more that Europe is open to anyone and everyone who wants to make the perilous journey.
The only way to stop illegal migration of the magnitude we are seeing is to refuse landing rights, tow the boats back to where they came from and make it absolutely clear that, however much we sympathise with migrants’ desire for a better life, Europe is not the soft touch they think it is.