New trend seen in arrival of illegal immigrants

Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said yesterday that a new trend had been detected in the arrival of illegal immigrants, with the organisers of the trips no longer accompanying the migrants on the boats.

Speaking in parliament in reply to parliamentary questions by Dr Adrian Vassallo (MLP), the minister said 898 illegal immigrants were currently under detention in Malta. Nearly all had arrived over the past few months, but two had been in Malta since 1999 because their identity had not been established yet.

Dr Borg said 220 illegal immigrants had been repatriated to Eritrea and Egypt over the past few weeks at a cost of Lm70,000 and more would be repatriated next week.

Talks were continuing with North African counties on agreements that would have three angles - the repatriation of their nationals, the return of other immigrants who would have left from their shores, and the use of those countries as transit points for repatriation to other countries.

Replying to a question by Mr Mario Galea (PN), the minister said the children of illegal immigrants were kept with their parents and arrangements were being made for their education.

The minister stressed that Malta could not host illegal immigrants other than those who were recognised as being refugees or those deserving temporary shelter until the situation in their country improved.

The process through which refugee status was considered was detailed and time consuming. Interviews by the Refugees Commissioner had lasted from 20 hours in one case, to two hours at least. But once immigrants were not granted refugee status, they could not expect to continue to stay in Malta.

Dr Borg said the government had been criticised for repatriating illegal immigrants against their will. These people, he said, came to Malta against the will of the Maltese and one could not expect the government to seek their permission to repatriate them once efforts for them to be given refugee status were exhausted.

Two Eritreans were recently granted refugee status and about 40 enjoyed temporary protection.

Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, replying to another question, said each illegal immigrant held in AFM quarters was costing the army Lm9.85 per week, excluding the salaries of the soldiers.