Minister of Justice Ragna Árnadóttir is currently putting together a work group to see how the government can increase supervision of foreigners, in the hopes of decreasing organized crime.
The group hopes to work within existing laws and international agreements. In a statement issued from the ministry, they say they intend to focus their efforts both on foreigners who originate from countries that are allowed freedom of movement in and out of Iceland, and those which require visas to enter. Among the ideas being brought up are a temporary passport supervisory authority, as well as an “unofficial” border patrol and domestic supervisory authority.
The work group, as reported on Vísir, appears to be comprised solely of policemen. No foreigners, or groups representing immigrant rights issues in Iceland, appear to have been invited.
Foreigners have been blamed, in both the government and in the media, for being involved in human trafficking in Iceland. And yet it should be noted that human traffickers seldom set up shop in countries where there are no customers. Whether or not the police plan on engaging an information campaign (which they have used about drug use, for example) to educate Icelanders on the dangers and human toll that hiring prostitutes and strippers has remains to be seen.