PN labels government ‘hypocritical’ over detention of Malian migrants

The Nationalist Party has criticised the government over the roundup and detention of a number of Malian migrants who have been in Malta, some for as long as a decade, labelling the government “hypocritical.” Asked by this newspaper for its reaction to the state of affairs, the PN was categorical: “While the return of people who are not eligible for protection must be part of any approach to migration, it is hugely hypocritical for the government to round up and detain a handful of Malians who have been in Malta for a decade when it has opened the floodgates to thousands of Libyans and Algerians who acquired residence permits and visas through fraudulent means.” Nine Malian migrants have been locked up in detention since late last year, when they were arrested as part of an EU project to return failed asylum seekers to their home country. It is understood that a number of them have lived in Malta for many years,

with some NGOs arguing that they should remain on the island, as they have settled down and integrated into Maltese society.

The PN argues that persons who have been in Malta for many years and have integrated into Maltese society should not be treated in this way, labelling it as “inhumane.”

“Even more importantly, children born in Malta, and who have only known Malta as their homeland, should never be subject to deportation.”

This, the PN said, must be the exception and not the rule. “Immigration to Malta must be done legally.

“Those persons who enter Malta illegally and are not deserving of international protection should be repatriated expediently.”

The PN was asked for its reaction to a joint editorial penned last week by The Malta Independent, the Times of Malta and MaltaToday, which joined forces to give a voice to all those people who have had their Temporary Humanitarian Protection-New (THP-n) status removed, many of who will be unable, through no fault of their own, to get proper documentation from their home countries in order to obtain a residence permit.

These individuals have been forced to live in complete uncertainty, despite the roots they have developed and the contribution they have made to Malta over the years. Malta’s independent media houses called on the government to refrain from senselessly deporting all those detained migrants from Mali who have been living in Malta for years, and employ a well-reasoned, practical policy. Some migrants who spoke with this newsroom who are faced with the possibility of deportation said that they have lived year for over 10 years.

THP-n was initiated in 2010 and was granted to all those migrants whose application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been rejected. It has since been under review. Until recently THP-n was granted to asylum seekers who are unaccompanied minors, who genuinely could not be returned through no fault of their own – either because of unfavourable relations with the country of origin, legal problems, for medical reasons or humanitarian grounds.