[user104658]

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed

We can't blame the migrants. They just want to escape poverty and believe Europe is the land of milk and honey. If I was earning £4 a month and a sack of rice cost me £5, I would be looking at every option for a better life.

That doesn't mean I accept illegal migrants, it just means I understand why we have them. I also accept that European governments could be doing a lot more to discourage these people
If we can't afford to put systems in place, like Libya is trying hard to do, then they will keep on coming here.

Indeed - the vast majority of economic illegal immigrants actually would love to stay where they are. Culturally, socially, geographically... they would love to stay in the country that is their home. Who would actually CHOOSE to leave some gorgeous countries to live crammed into a tiny flat in rainy London with 5 other strangers, all for the honor of working an often less than min wage job?

People make that leap because they feel like they have no choice... and the way to reduce this sort of economic migration isn't "closing the borders" of the countries they're trying to come to... it's actually starting to work together to make sure that people don't have to abandon their homes in the first place.