Migrant at risk of losing protection status falls to his knees and begs for help from President
A Nigerian migrant fell to his knees and broke down at President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca's feet yesterday, asking her to help migrants at risk of losing their protection status.
Colin Calleja and other activists who form part of the Solidarity with Migrants group invited the President to support their proposal to government to allow those migrants with Temporary Humanitarian Protection (new), known as THPN protection to remain as they are and reverse the decision to have them deported.
Innocent Lokri, a Nigerian migrant and THPN holder began telling the President of his life before moving to Malta, and broke down.
“Before arriving here, I lived in misery. I was a fugitive from a particular group but I managed to come here with my family, and we were all happy. Now the government has told us that we must produce identity documents if we want to continue working and living in Malta, and all the misery came back. Where will we go? What about our children?”
Mr Calleja explained that those with THPN status are not only those 30 or-so Malian migrants who have been in the press for the past couple of months. He stressed that there are approximately 1,000 migrants with such a status.
He said that migrants with THPN status have been told that they must procure their passport from the country of origin by 31 October, but he stressed that many of these countries of origin have problems and thus this might not be possible.
“They are told that once they have the passport, they can apply for residency permits or work permits. For an undocumented migrant to procure such a passport is almost an impossible feat.” Once the 31 October deadline passes, they would lose their protection, he said.
“They would also need to comply with criteria set by Identity Malta, which again makes it even harder for undocumented migrants to achieve. These are people who have lived and worked in Malta for many years.”
He stressed that this situation is putting migrants at risk of being exploited, abused and dragged into poverty.
“Most migrants who have THPN status have successfully integrated into the community, and contribute to economy and wellbeing of society. Many have children born here, forming families and building friendships. It is unfair to put such people, who have worked hard to integrate into Maltese society, into vulnerable situations.”
He expressed his worry that this action is encouraging extremism to grow, and that government’s decision, to give those with THPN status up until 31 October to retrieve a passport from their home country, will create uncertainty.
“The people being affected by this work within the workforce here in Malta, and contribute to the success of a number of businesses.”
He asked the President to intervene and to pressure government so that these migrants can continue to enjoy the little benefits they have through THPN status. He also asked for her to join in a walk taking place on Sunday in solidarity with these migrants, and to intervene for the release of the nine Malian migrants who are currently being detained.
The President on her part spoke of the lack of respect for human dignity and rights in Europe today.
“Treating each other with dignity is the only viable way forward to a sustainable and peaceful world. Retention must replace detention, and our brothers and sisters must be allowed to continue working productively in Malta as they have been doing for years. We must stand collectively in solidarity against such rabid individualism.”.
She stressed that a message of unconditional love matters, and that solidarity begins at home. “I call on you to stand up and be counted. I cannot reassure anything, but what I can reassure you with is that solidarity will be there, now and always wherever is needed.”