BORDER MANAGEMENT Facing public pressure, Dutch border police say they will stop using ethnic profiling Dutch border police have decided to stop using ethnic profiling as a criterion to carry out identity checks, the organisation said in a statement ahead of upcoming discussions on the issue with the Dutch parliament. The decision follows a case brought by several NGOs together with two Dutch citizens who argued they were singled out for checks because of their skin colour. Last September, the Hague District Court had ruled that border police could use ethnic profiling because ethnicity can be an important indication of nationality, and if it is not the only indicator considered and the selection decision is explainable. Frontex implicated in fundamental rights violations, says its Fundamental Rights Officer Media outlet EU Observer reports clear written indications from Frontex Fundamental Rights Officer, Jonas Grimheden, around Frontex’s indirect implication in fundamental rights violations. Grimheden detailed that while Frontex may not be directly involved in such violations, “the mere fact that they are supporting national authorities that does, implicates the agency to some extent”. Grimheden further expressed impatience at Frontex’s failure in implementing his recommendations to mitigate potential violations. New study unveils profits by the industry of the securitization of EU borders A new report published in November by the Left in the EU Parliament points out the profitable industry behind the securitisation of the EU. Migrants and refugees are repeatedly shown as a threat to security in order to justify the seal-off of Europe, fuelling benefits for companies producing or involved in surveillance machinery. The report names companies in the field, and outlines the way in which security and technology are presented as a solution, all the while violating migrants’ and refugees’ rights and increasing deaths at EU borders. New report documents human rights violations in forced returns from Libya The UN Human Rights Commissioner’s Office published a new report which documents human rights violations of migrants in forced expulsions from Libya. The report outlines a set of recommendations to neighbouring states and the international community to protect migrants in forced return procedures, in line with human rights standards and the principle of non-refoulement from and to Libya. The paper focuses on the lack of due process, arbitrary detentions, dangerous and poor conditions of the expulsions and the lack of access to justice. UK government to face legal action over prosecutions of migrants for steering boats The UK Court of Appeal will be hearing cases of people accused of smuggling and imprisoned for steering boats transporting migrants across the Channel. In the past two years, 67 cases have been prosecuted in the UK and civil society organisations warn that this extended practice will not tackle smuggling, while still criminalising and jailing people. These prosecutions have continued despite the Crown Prosecutor publishing updated guidance in July, which advises against prosecuting boats passengers, even when taking turns in steering the boat.