From Mr A. Ciantar

The issue of the illegal immigrants present in our island State has now assumed worrying proportions. We have experienced yet another summer in which a considerable number of landings have been registered, despite the actions – if any – of Frontex. As I write, yet another boatload of 33 people is reported to have been landed at Haywharf.

Many arguments presented in the media tend to confuse, perhaps deliberately, the term “illegal immigrant” with the term “refugee” The “refugee” hails from a territory where situations such as conflicts or natural disasters compel the same to seek refuge in another territory or state until the conditions that compelled the “refugee” to seek refuge no longer exist. Even in this case, the ex-refugee is obliged to return to his or her country of origin.

The “refugee”, unlike the illegal immigrant, will readily cooperate by producing proof of his or her identity and origin and the conditions that compelled the individual to apply for refugee status as defined by the UN. The host country should provide adequate support and protection to alleviate the suffering of such individuals until the time they are able to return to their country of origin. On the other hand there is the “illegal immigrant”, an individual who does not satisfy the status of “refugee” as defined by the UN. Typical examples are illegal immigrants from Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco or Syria, who would be better classified as “economic migrants”. The band of “illegal immigrants” also includes people who overstay the hospitality of their temporary visit in Malta.

A recent statistic shows that out of 8,000 such individuals who landed on our Island, fewer than 200 qualified for refugee status. This means that the remainder are “illegal immigrants” who therefore have no right, under either National or International Law, to remain in Malta.

So far it seems that “illegal immigrants” have been held both in detention and in open centres, where they have been given very basic accommodation and an allowance for what presumably was to be a period until they are returned to their country of origin. But it seems that matters are now set to take yet another twist. A report by Herman Grech carried in The Sunday Times of 23 September, quotes Ministry social policy advisor Alex Tortell as saying: “We are shifting towards a system where benefits would stop after immigrants find legal employment… because these persons would be moving towards integration”, and “we want to work towards a solution outside the open centres… It’s either integration and resettlement or return” (my italics).

In view of Mr Tortell’s statements, I ask the Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Christina the following explicit question: “What political mandate does the Hon. Minister have that would allow the Ministry to integrate illegal immigrants into Maltese society and give them legal employment? “

In promoting a policy of integration and resettlement of illegal immigrants the Hon. Minister would be acting “ultra vires”.

The only action the authorities may take after verifying that the individuals do not qualify for refugee status is deportation. This procedure is perfectly legal and was the routine until a few years ago, with individuals who arrived in Malta by irregular means being arraigned in Court and, following the proceedings, were usually served with deportation orders.

The integration and resettlement of illegal immigrants is perhaps a devise meant to camouflage an issue that has grown out of proportion, and perhaps out of control, so much so that apparently the only means now available to the Administration is to “normalise” their presence.

Incidentally, it is pertinent to point out that any efforts intended to normalise the presence of illegal immigrants will encourage other illegal immigrants to our shores. To any decent Maltese citizen who takes pride in this nation of ours, who takes pride in being Maltese and especially who has worked hard to make it the nation it is today, this state of affairs is unacceptable.

If we are to pass on our patrimony to future generations, then it must be defended, and defended even more now.

Perhaps the Hon. Minister would like to clarify the issue. The election heat is now on!

Arthur Ciantar

MARSAXLOKK