The relationship between migration and crime on the example of the Samara region

Abstract

This paper analyzes the migration situation in the Samara region, the main objectives of which were to study the causes affecting migration crime. Based on the results of the conducted research, preventive measures aimed at preventing migration crime have been developed.

Keywords: migration, migration problems, migration crime, adaptation of foreign citizens.

Full Text

Introduction
Migration is one of the most pressing and controversial issues in modern society. The global migration situation is constantly changing. Migrants are constantly arriving in the Russian Federation and the Samara Region, in particular. In recent decades, the clash of cultures and nationalities has become increasingly noticeable, as well as the range of problems associated with the presence of migrants in the territory of the Russian Federation has increased, and therefore it is necessary to have a clear understanding of what the role of migration is, what exactly causes problems in modern Russian society. The purpose of this work is to identify the main causes affecting migration crime using the example of the Samara region.
The main part
Let's turn to the very concept of migration. Population migration is a complex social process closely related to the change in the economic structure and the allocation of productive forces, with the growth of social and labor mobility of the population [1]. The concept of migration in the conventional sense means the movement of people from one country or region to another in order to find better living conditions, work, education or protection from persecution. Migration can be internal, when people move within one country, or international, when they cross the borders of different countries. In the modern world, migration has become an integral part of the global economy and society, and Russia is also facing its consequences.
Despite the fact that the influx of migrants to our country has decreased over the past few years, Russia remains among the five countries with the most aggravated migration situation. The main donor countries of migrants for Russia are the former republics of the Soviet Union, such as Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and a significant number of migrants come to Russia from countries near and far abroad, such as China, India, Vietnam, and African countries.
According to the results of a survey [2] on the attitude of Russians towards visitors from other countries conducted by the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion, almost every second Russian is convinced: labor migration is a positive phenomenon for our country (47%), the indicator is several times higher than previous measurements (2006 - 21%, 2008 - 14%, 2013 - 14%). The opposite opinion is held by 40% today, which is almost two times less than ten years ago (2013 — 74%). It is noteworthy that the ideas of labor migration are not significantly influenced by urbanization. Both in large cities and in rural areas, people think about this issue in about the same way (50% of metropolitan residents and 47% of villagers support labor migration).
According to the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Samara region, 221,744 migrants were registered in the region in 2023, which is 16.4% less than in 2022. However, the number of initial registration increased by 12.8% – 139,158 foreigners. 13,0378 people were removed from the register [3].
Most often, migrants come to the Samara region to work in large regional cities such as Samara, Tolyatti, Novokuibyshevsk.
The reasons for migration are diverse. The main factors that encourage people to move to Russia and the Samara region are economic opportunities, the social sphere, job availability and high earnings, as well as education and the level of development of society. Some migrants seek protection and refuge from political or religious persecution in their countries.
In addition to the positive aspects associated with economic growth and the replenishment of working professions, there are also negative aspects of migration, such as interethnic conflicts, social inequality, lack of integration of migrants into society, illegal migration, as well as migration crime.
In recent decades, the issue of migration and crime among migrants has become one of the most relevant and controversial in the public debate in Russia.
According to the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, in 2023 there was a sharp increase in crime among migrants. The number of crimes committed by them in Russia increased by 75%, to 21.8 thousand. [4].
According to the information of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Samara region, in 2023 foreigners and stateless persons committed 1,408 crimes in the region, which is 20.2% more than a year earlier. The majority (939 cases) are related to drug trafficking, and 3803 crimes in the field of migration legislation were also registered (+13.2%) [5].
Many citizens of the Russian Federation are concerned about the level of crime committed by representatives of various nationalities located in the country.
Among the main causes [6, 7] affecting migration crime, it is possible to distinguish:
1) Social and economic vulnerability - many migrants are in difficult life circumstances, which leads to illegal ways of earning money.
2) problems with law and order in the country of origin - lack of trust in law enforcement agencies and corruption can affect the behavior of migrants in a new country.
3) difficulties in adaptation - language barrier, cultural differences, lack of support from society can complicate the integration process.
4) the negative attitude of part of the population towards migrants – stereotypes and bias towards migrants often circulate in society, which creates difficulties for their integration and interaction with the local population. As a result, migrants face discrimination in the workplace, in educational institutions and in everyday life. This complicates the adaptation process and worsens the social situation of migrants.
In addition, migrants who find themselves in an environment alien to them, who do not know Russian well and the current legislation, settle compactly, forming ethnic diasporas, as a rule, being outside the legal field. The above-mentioned factors of migration crime are also common in the Samara Region [8].
It should be noted that not all migrants are associated with illegal activities, and most of them are law-abiding citizens working for the benefit of economic and social development [9].
As part of the implementation of social and cultural adaptation of foreign citizens, the Federal Agency for Nationalities Affairs has compiled a list of activities recommended for implementation at the regional and municipal levels, such as: organizing and conducting classes on learning Russian as a foreign language, organizing and conducting classes on the prevention of extremism and terrorism, assistance in finding housing and work, organizing and holding meetings of foreign citizens with representatives of state and local government bodies, as well as other events.
Measures to prevent crime and illegal actions among migrants are an integral part of the migration policy of the recipient country [10]. In turn, the fragmentation of the powers and tasks of the authorities in the field of regulating migration processes leads to a weakening of control over current migration policy.
To this end, it is necessary to take a number of preventive measures:
1) development of integration programs to create conditions for the adaptation of migrants, as well as to improve the provision of various types of services to them in the field of employment, legal protection, medical, social and educational services (primarily, improving Russian language proficiency, retraining and advanced training of migrants).
2) development of digital passports for migrants, recording the period of stay in the territory of the Russian Federation, employment, etc.
3) amendments to the current legislation that will allow foreign citizens with a low level of professional training to enter the country for a strictly defined period. To do this, it is necessary to improve the procedure for entry, stay and residence of foreign citizens on the territory of the Russian Federation, strengthen responsibility for violations of migration legislation, implement measures aimed at improving the immigration control system, as well as counteract the organization of illegal migration channels.
4) delegation of control and supervisory functions in the field of migration to the state authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation.
5) development of interaction between state authorities and local governments with public associations that promote the adaptation of foreign citizens entering the territory of the Russian Federation.
Conclusion
Migration problems in the Russian Federation are a complex and multifaceted problem that requires an integrated approach and interaction of all levels of government. It must be remembered that the status of a migrant should not determine his identity or the likelihood of committing crimes. Only mutual understanding, cooperation and mutual respect will make it possible to resolve this issue and create a harmonious society based on the principles of justice and legality. It is worth noting that distrust and bias can become an obstacle to understanding and solving the problem of crime among migrants in Russia. Building a dialogue, looking for common ground and looking for ways to develop together – these are the key steps to solving this urgent problem. The task of sociology is to obtain the necessary data on the migration situation, primarily at the regional level, through qualitative and quantitative research. In our opinion, conducting interviews with experts in the field of migration crime, as well as questioning the population, will contribute to the development of recommendations for the prevention of migration crime, improving measures for the social adaptation of migrants.