By Marah Najem, Intern at the Renaissance Strategic Center (RSC)
“The question of emigration of Jordanians seems to be unresolved, the strong desire to emigrate reflects deep anxiety among Jordanian youth and a loss of confidence in their homeland, where opportunities are limited, and prospects are blocked.”
(Tareq Naimat, The New Arab 2022).
Jordan, a nation characterized by a diverse population shaped by various migration movements, has witnessed a concerning trend of illegal emigration among its citizens, particularly in the wake of the Arab Uprisings in the past decade and most recently the regional turmoil in 2023/2024. An in-depth investigation by Roya TV (2024) has revealed that tens, if not hundreds, of young Jordanians are being “smuggled” into other countries. Although illegal emigration is not new to Jordan, it has been relatively under-documented until now. This article examines the recent surge in illegal emigration from Jordan to the UK and the US, delving into the historical context, economic and social drivers, the influence of social media, and the challenges and risks faced by these emigrants. It seeks to shed light on this phenomenon and propose recommendations to address it.
The Urge to Leave: Understanding the Drivers of Emigration from Jordan
The 2024 Arab Barometer report reveals that nearly 42% of Jordanian citizens express a desire to emigrate, with youth constituting the highest percentage at 54%, and 90% citing financial instability as their primary motivation. The Jordanian Department of Statistics’ 2024 report indicates that 67.5% of Jordanians aged 25 and older are unemployed. Additionally, a 2021 report by Jordan News highlights that unemployment is a significant contributor to mental health challenges, such as depression and anxiety, which can lead to issues like substance abuse, domestic violence, community strife, and internal conflicts.
Public sentiment suggests that corruption and excessive bureaucracy hinder the youth’s ability to realize their potential, as noted by the Jordan Times in 2018. Economist Friedrich Schneider from Johannes Kepler University asserts that corruption drives emigration among workers. When jobs are allocated based on connections rather than merit, it leads to high unemployment rates and diminished returns on human capital, as qualified individuals are overlooked due to a lack of relevant contacts. These dynamics stifle economic growth and fuel emigration, particularly among the skilled labor force. Musa Shteiwi, President of the Social and Economic Council, states that around 1.5 million Jordanians, predominantly skilled professionals, have emigrated, significantly impacting the economy (Roya News, 2024).
Social media plays a crucial role in shaping the aspirations of Jordanian youth. Platforms like Instagram and YouTube promote the “American Dream,”. These platforms often feature idealized images of the American flag, skyscrapers, and promises of steady employment, while downplaying the significant challenges and obstacles involved in migration (The Hill, 2024). A 2023 article by the New York Times explains that social media has become an essential tool for those fleeing their homelands, helping them research migration routes and opportunities.
Desperate Journeys: The Rise of Illegal Emigration from Jordan
In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, some Jordanians exploited the instability by emigrating illegally. According to an article by Alrai newspaper (2016), Jordanians seeking illegal emigration often pay smugglers outside Jordan to provide them with falsified documents, allowing them to claim Syrian origin. This was a common tactic as Syrian migrants were permitted to seek refuge in Western countries during the Syrian Crisis, with most of this migration directed towards European countries.
“I sold my home furniture to gather the money the smugglers demanded, which ranged between 2,500 Jordanian dinars and 3,000 USD, paid in installments. I made an agreement with one of the smugglers to take me from Turkey to Greece, but he led me into a terrible situation. He started delaying and making excuses for not fulfilling his promises. After numerous excuses, he disappeared completely, taking $1,200 from me and several others, and we couldn’t find him,” said Alaa (a nickname). (Ammon News, 2016)
Alaa had traveled from Jordan to Turkey using his Jordanian passport, but upon his arrival in a European country, he hid the passport and presented himself as a Syrian refugee who had lost his identification documents. He continued, “After that, I was forced to return to Jordan, dragging myself back in disappointment, having lost everything I owned.” (Ammon News, 2016)
The EU Immigration Portal warns of the serious consequences for illegal migrants entering the EU without authorization. Migrants smuggled into an EU country will not have the legal right to remain, which may result in fines, deportation, or other penalties that vary by country. Additionally, staying without legal status can severely limit access to employment, housing, education, and healthcare, thereby increasing the risk of exploitation and other dangers.
ARDD has addressed the issue of youth emigration through numerous campaigns over the years, focusing on identifying root causes and offering potential solutions.[1]
New Frontiers: The Complex Journey of Illegal Emigration from Jordan to the UK and Beyond
From February 22, 2024, until September 9, 2024, Jordanian citizens could enter the UK using an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) without needing a visa. However, staying illegally became increasingly difficult due to new rules implemented by the UK government. A 2023 article by Gulbenkian Andonian, an immigration solicitors’ company in London, details these rules, including introducing a new e-Borders security system designed to tighten UK border control. This system employs biometrics, such as facial recognition, to identify individuals without valid passports or visas. It also enforces stricter background checks for legal entrants and plans to increase the number of detention centers for illegal immigrants. Additionally, the government has pledged to introduce tougher laws targeting employers who hire illegal immigrants.
Many Jordanians had already been denied entry to the UK for violating immigration laws related to hotel reservations and entry instructions (Roya TV, 2024). Despite this, a significant number of Jordanians continued to use the UK as a gateway for illegal emigration to other countries, mainly the US and Ireland.
In a call to Amman TV, Adnan Humaidan, the head of the “Al Arab in the UK” platform, recounted stories of Jordanian illegal emigrants in the UK. One story involved a young man who spent years saving money to buy his first car, only to sell it and move to the UK, where he eventually spent all his savings trying to find a job. Despite his efforts, he was unsuccessful. According to Adnan, high unemployment rates, difficult living conditions, and a lack of awareness among Jordanian citizens are key drivers of migration. “If you don’t have the skills or the language, why would any foreign company hire you?”
Jordanian journalist Tareq Naimat spoke to Amman TV about the strict immigration rules recently imposed by the UK due to the surge in illegal migration, even post-Brexit. With immigration becoming increasingly difficult in the UK, Ireland has emerged as a new destination for Jordanians seeking to emigrate illegally. Since there are no borders or checkpoints between Britain and Ireland, particularly from Northern Ireland, Jordanians can enter by bus and apply for asylum there. However, Adnan emphasizes that when Jordanians enter the UK legally, their eye-prints are taken, making them easily identifiable in any other country they may enter.
In response to these abuses and violations, the British Embassy in Amman informed the Jordanian government of its decision to suspend the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for Jordanian citizens, As of September 10, 2024, according to an announcement by the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday (Jordan Times, 2024).
The American Nightmare
Many Jordanians have fallen victim to the allure of the American Dream, only to find themselves trapped in an American Nightmare. According to the investigation by Roya TV (2024), Yahya (a nickname) recalls with sadness, “The worst experience in the world. If I knew I was going to suffer this way, I wouldn’t have left Jordan. What we experienced was like a drama movie.” Yahya and his group were abducted twice by Mexican gangs, heavily armed with weapons. Reflecting on the ordeal, he says, “Whoever says that the journey is safe is a liar.”
In a call to Amman TV, Akef Al Farouq, a recent illegal emigrant to the United States, highlighted the dangers and uncertainties of such journeys while describing his experience: “I worked for 30 years, but when the Syrian Crisis began, I could no longer find a job. I met a broker through someone I know, and we gave them our passports and paid money. It cost me 9,000 Jordanian Dinars. First, we traveled to London, then to Panama, Nicaragua, and Mexico. The journey took 14 days, and from Mexico to the U.S. borders, it took us 11 hours through valleys. There’s also another route, which is through the wall, and some people break parts of their bodies when they jump […]”.
Another young Jordanian, recounted the harrowing experiences of his journey, describing one particularly traumatic moment, he said, “They crammed 19 people into a GMC car, and we were suffocating and began screaming. One guy stuck his head out of the window, and they shot him in the leg.” (7iber, 2024).
Upon arrival in the United States, the challenges continue to mount. Illegal migrants face high costs of living, expensive housing, and daily expenses—all while lacking health insurance or a work permit, making survival even more difficult (7iber, 2024).
Biden administration implemented a broad asylum ban for migrants caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, a significant enforcement action ahead of the November election that will determine control of the White House. (CBC News, 2024).
Combatting Human Trafficking: Jordan’s Legal Battle Against Migrant Smuggling
Jordanian legislation defines human trafficking crimes under the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act No. 9 of 2009: “Transporting, moving, lodging, or receiving of people for the purpose of abusing them, whether through using or threatening of use of force, or through any form of coercion, abduction, fraud, deceit, abuse of power, abuse of vulnerability, or through giving or receiving financial gifts or any other privileges to secure the consent of a person who has control over those people”.
According to a Middle East Eye report (2024), brokers and human traffickers are openly active on Jordanian Facebook groups, attracting young people from all over the Arab-speaking world. Under Jordanian law, human trafficking facilitating illegal emigration is considered a serious crime, carrying penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to 20,000 dinars. Such crimes are regarded as having aggravated circumstances due to their transnational nature and the involvement of multiple perpetrators and victims (Roya News, 2024).
ARDD´s Legal Aid Unit emphasized that combating this crime requires collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to prevent, suppress, and punish human trafficking in all its forms and manifestations, to keep Jordan free from this global phenomenon.
Recommendations
- Encouraging Jordanians to Seek Work in Various Sectors
Enhance Economic Opportunities
Invest in sectors that have the potential for high growth and job creation, such as technology, renewable energy, tourism, and creative industries.
Link Education with Market Needs and Enhance Vocational Training
Align university curricula and vocational training offering more practical training and job placements with the skills needed in the local and global job markets.
- Implementing Government Economic and Policy Reforms
Governments should promote small enterprises, adjust their economic policies, and adopt a forward-thinking strategic approach. These reforms could create more job opportunities and decrease the incentive for illegal emigration.
- Combating Online Content That Facilitates People Smuggling
Governments should establish partnerships with social media companies to limit the activities of migrant smuggling brokers who lure individuals into illegal emigration through online platforms.
- Raising Awareness About the Risks of Illegal Emigration
Efforts to address illegal emigration should include integrating the issue into educational curricula and university activities. Increased field visits to regions with high emigration rates, training programs for influential local figures, and promoting the value of work through education, media, and direct youth engagement are essential strategies.
- Facilitating Legal Migration
Establishing partnerships between Jordan and neighboring countries to facilitate the recruitment and legal migration of young people and skilled workers is crucial. This approach would provide a legitimate pathway for Jordanians seeking opportunities abroad.
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