Malta Deportes Record Number of Migrants Last year, says Interior Minister
Malta deported a “record” number of migrants last year, said Interior Minister Byron Camilleri.
“Last year, we deported a record number of people who did not have the right to asylum,” Camilleri told ONE TV yesterday. “Our policy is clear; we are fair to those who have genuine asylum claims but tough on abusers. ”
In addition to the increase in decorations, the minister said that the irregular arrivals of migrants have decreased significantly, and mentioned talks between the Maltese and Libyan governments that started back in May 2020.
Camilleri did not give numbers on any number and Lovin Malta requested this data from the Ministry of the Interior.
He expressed satisfaction that the subject of irregular migration, and internal affairs in general, had hardly come up during the recent election campaign “because when it is mentioned, it does not tend to be for positive reasons”. .
In 2020, Malta and Libya have agreed to set up centers in Valletta and Tripoli to coordinate against irregular migration, with former prison director Alex Dalli as part of those efforts.
However, international concerns have been raised about the return of migrants to Libya, including by Pope Francis, who will visit Malta over the weekend.
Last October, the Pope warned that many migrants in Libya suffer inhumane and violent conditions similar to those experienced in concentration camps.
He is expected to focus on migration during his trip to Malta and will be visiting migrants detained at the Ħal Far Peace Lab.