Exercising right of control over borders

Many of the comments made in my letter Immigration And The Future of Malta (January 11) suggest that "racism" is somehow the key issue, that is the notion of one group disparaging or discriminating against another.

The key issue in my view is one of a nation exercising the right of control over its borders, whether, for example, a foreigner enters the country as a tourist, businessman or immigrant. If the latter, the US and EU countries have procedures to follow that include medical and background checks and often employment verification after which the applicant in question receives an immigrant visa. If an African intends to become Maltese I believe he should follow this procedure and, if he does so, be welcomed.

None of the Africans currently in Malta follow this procedure; rather they pay human traffickers to deliver them after which they demand "asylum". The US and British embassies have encouraged this by granting immigrant visas to selected Africans, in effect giving legal status to the illegals.

As an example of a way forward here, Africans and Asians working in Gulf countries who want to change their employer or residence status are routinely asked to return to their native countries, apply for a change of status visa, then return.

Likewise could the African illegals in Malta be required to return to their native countries and apply for a Maltese immigrant visa, then return.