For the first day of meetings, the "Migration Group" met with a civil society representative and a Moroccan government official to discuss Moroccan immigration policies toward irregular migrants. Their perspectives could not have been more different.
In the morning, the group interviewed Mr. Rachid Boudali, the Executive Director of the Foundation Orient-Occident (FOO). While the organization originally began with the mission of serving low-income Moroccans, in the last fourteen years the organizational model has expanded to provide services to immigrants in the seven major cities where FOO has centers. The organization operates within a "South-South" model, focusing on community development and social justice issues for Moroccans, immigrants, and refugees. The vocational training centers integrate Moroccans and non-Moroccans to establish ties between the two communities and break down the barriers that prevent immigrants from successfully integrating into the Moroccan culture.
In a tour of the facilities, our group observed young African migrants receiving French classes and staff assisting migrants with refugee applications. Mr. Boudali believes that civil society organizations are capable of providing the services that migrants require to be successful in Morocco, but he is critical of the Moroccan government's strategy toward irregular migrants, which he believes is not sufficiently innovative.
Later in the day, members of our group spoke with the Director of the Ministry of Migration Affairs, who took the time to explain the National Strategy for Immigration and Asylum Seekers. In 2013, following the publication of a report from the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), which was critical of the conditions in which immigrants were forced to live as a result of the lack of a regularization (legalization) framework, the Moroccan government developed a national strategy based on eleven sectors deemed essential for integration. Among these sectors are education, health, and vocational training - similar to the services provided by the FOO.
In 2014 and 2017, two campaigns provided immigrants with one-year residency cards. In an apparent recognition of Morocco's efforts to implement more progressive immigration policies, in December the Ministry of Migration will serve as the Co-Chair for the Global Forum on Migration and Development
Clearly, these two individuals had considerably different perspectives. The first criticized the actions of the government, believing that the policies exist more on paper than in reality. The second was optimistic and proud of the Moroccan government for its successful implementation of the National Strategy for Immigration and Asylum Seekers.
In light of this first experience, the group is eager to meet with more experts with different takes on this complex issue.
