The young man from Senegal was one of roughly 20,000 who have arrived so far this year in Spain's Canary Islands, trying to reach Europe. The waters around the Canaries are becoming a humanitarian disaster. Thousands drown before they reach the shore of the closest part of Europe to west Africa, almost 1,000 miles (1,600km) away. But the young man was not deterred. If he got the chance, he said, he would try again tomorrow. All round Europe immigrants are, literally, dying to get in. Many Europeans say that immigration is an "important" or "extremely important threat". Managing immigration is now "the greatest challenge facing all European governments", according to John Reid, Britain's home secretary. Nicolas Sarkozy, interior minister and presidential candidate, has launched a get-tough campaign that may push the issue up the agenda in next year's French presidential election. This summer's break-up of the Dutch coalition was triggered by disputes over the tough policy of the immigration minister, Rita Verdonk.
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