Reference is made to the Diet Simon’s letter entitled “Malta, keep all children out of adult detention facilities” (TMIS, 26 August).

It should be noted that practically all irregular migrants reach Malta without any documents; therefore the authorities are unable to ascertain the identities of the persons concerned upon entry. In fact, this is usually a lengthy process that also depends on the cooperation of the migrants themselves. 

However, vulnerable people, including unaccompanied minors, women with children, pregnant women, elderly and/or disabled persons are not subject to the mandatory detention requirement. The freedom of such people is restricted only until such time that the local health authorities grant the necessary medical clearances. It is not uncommon for migrants to claim that they belong to one of the categories mentioned above to secure their early release. In view of this, the Age Assessment Team in the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers (AWAS) attends to each person’s claim within the shortest possible time frame to ensure that minors are identified expeditiously and that they are provided with all the necessary assistance.

Mr Simon’s claim that persons “who don’t look like children” spend weeks and weeks in detention while their request for release is being determined is totally misguided and definitely does not reflect current statistics. Out of the 1,394 persons who have landed in Malta irregularly since the start of the current year, a total of 283 claimed to be minors. Of these, 263 claimed to be minors upon arrival, while 20 others changed their date of birth from adult to minor. Forty-six unaccompanied minor asylum seekers (UMAS) who claimed to be minors upon arrival were issued with a care order. The Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers (AWAS) has processed and determined all these cases, except for 27 related to the latest arrivals. These cases are in fact being processed this week. On average, it takes AWAS 18 days to determine each request and secure the release of a person who has been positively identified as a minor. This period also takes into account the time taken for the same person to be granted medical clearance from the health authorities. Some under-18s were indeed released from detention within six days.

With reference to Mr Simon’s allegation that persons claiming to be minors “experience violence and are taken advantage of while in detention”, it should be noted that the Detention Service immediately refers such instances of violence between migrants directly to the police and steps are taken in court when necessary against the perpetrators of such violence.

The Maltese government is committed to ensuring that the dignity and well being of all migrants are respected not only during the course of their stay in detention, but also after their release.

Darrell Pace

Communication Co-ordinating Officer

Ministry for Home Affairs