Immigrants: where is the threat? (1)

I read with bafflement but also perplexity The Times report on the Valletta protest organised by the ANR. I must admit that I am now working in another country and, although I visit Malta quite often, I might not have a proper understanding of what is happening in my home country. Still, I felt I had to put across the following questions.

First of all, it is not clear to me precisely against what or whom the protest was directed. The repatriation of illegal immigrants is a very complex and generally lengthy undertaking but I am under the impression that it is, specifically, the policy that Malta is currently following. This even though it entails some very unhappy but inescapable decisions concerning the detention of all illegal immigrants in what will always remain precarious conditions. And this notwithstanding the fact that the Maltese government has had to parry criticism from a number of sources.

There is no doubt that Malta is facing an extremely serious problem due to the large and increasing number of illegal immigrants but I would hesitate to call it a racial issue. The problem stems from the sheer number of illegal emigrants and not their race. When, not so long ago, Malta was faced with vessels carrying thousands of white Albanians, the threat was no less serious. Furthermore, in practical terms, it is my impression that most Maltese do not come in contact with illegal immigrants unless they happen to pass close to one of the detention centres. So where is the purported threat of a multicultural society? If mixing with other races had been a problem, I am quite sure that it used to happen much more concretely not so long ago; during the years when the Libyan ferry used to dock regularly at Pinto Wharf, bringing with it large numbers of persons from North Africa who, in most cases, did not even need a visa to stop in Malta.

Finally I am not quite sure which are those particular treasured Maltese values that certain people are claiming that they want to safeguard. In my youth I was brought up with the story of Saint Paul's shipwreck and how the Maltese showed their compassion by giving him shelter and by making him welcome. Against part of my conscience, I have to accept that today we would have to label him a klandestin and, although providing him with shelter, we would have to make sure that he does not feel welcome lest others follow in his footsteps. So much I have had to accept but I find it revolting that there are some who call themselves Maltese who are now saying that we should throw him (and others) back into the sea.