Minister for Home Affairs, Security, and Employment, Byron Camilleri, revealed that 833 illegal immigrants were deported from Malta in the past four years.
Speaking on the program Vi jew Va on Radju Malta, Camilleri explained that these deportations occurred after it was found that these individuals were living in Malta illegally. He also noted that in the last two years alone, an additional 120 people were sent back to their home countries after serving prison sentences.
Camilleri emphasised the importance of focusing on returning illegal immigrants as part of a fair immigration system, stressing that this approach was supported by European Union ministers during recent discussions. The Minister further highlighted the European Commission’s pressure on countries like Ethiopia to accept the return of their nationals.
However, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Darren Carabott, criticised the government’s handling of Ethiopian immigrants whose refugee status claims were rejected, accusing the government of being overly strict.
Carabott argued that while the government was deporting these individuals, it had also allowed the population to grow by 100,000 over the last decade through the issuance of residence permits.
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