Bread, water and shelter for the night
How do you treat someone who knocks on your door after a voyage full of dangers? You welcome him and treat him as a human being although you know that you cannot send him back and you must give shelter in your small home?
This is the situation in the Maltese Islands where the Government has to provide shelter to the hundreds of illegal immigrants who have come over in recent months. Being one of the most densely populated countries in the world, there aren’t many places where you can host hundreds of newcomers.
The Maltese Government has resisted calls to give more freedom of movement to these illegal immigrants on grounds of security. However illegal immigrants are becoming more and more frustrated, being locked up in detestation centres until their applications for asylum are processed. In the recent months a number of protests - at times with violent outcomes - broke out in a number of centres on the island. At times illegal immigrants and Members of the Armed Forces have been hurt, while at other times illegal immigrants have managed to flee the restricting conditions of the centres.
When these immigrants do get some freedom to roam our streets, they are welcomed by wary looks from the Maltese villagers and townsfolk. The colour of their skin and the way they came to Malta does not match the typical stereotyped freckled tourist coming from some European country to bask in the Maltese sun or appreciate the Maltese historical heritage.
Fewer migrants apply to become refugees
Aug 20, 2007, 18:31 CET
Report leads to improved detention system
Aug 16, 2007, 16:14 CET
Archbishop visits Ħal Far detention centre
Jul 31, 2007, 16:12 CET
"Integrating immigrants is impossible" - PM
Jul 6, 2007, 11:07 CET
18-year-old from Eritrea in danger of dying
Apr 8, 2007, 18:56CET
Migrant imprisoned for 28 years over murder
Feb 26, 2007 - 3:51 CET
Cardinal criticises Maltese detention policy
Feb 18, 2007, 10:49 CET
Man, youth in court after shooting refugee
Feb 13, 2007, 18:41 CET
Eritrean man seriously injured by a firearm
Feb 9, 2007, 17:36 CET
28 persons granted refugee status in 2006
Dec 30, 2006, 17:20 CET
Malta fails to provide data for racism report
Nov 29, 2006, 09:06 CET
Landing flights delayed after illegal immigrants flee
Nov 8, 2006, 11:04 CET
1,415 illegal immigrants reside in Open Centers
Nov 2, 2006, 11:15 CET
Algerian man jailed 18 months over human traffic
Oct 25, 2006, 16:09 CET
Soldiers, illegal immigrants injured in crash
Oct 12, 2006, 11:11 CET
Illegal immigrants complain about lack of jobs
Oct 2, 2006, 09:11 CET
Illegal immigrant in court over drug possession
Sep 27, 2006, 19:00 CET
Detention centres need money - Minister Borg
Jul 24, 2006, 16:10 CET
Rowdy incident erupts in detention centre
Jul 3, 2006, 13:10 CET
Expressed solidarity with police and army personnel injured
Jun 28, 2006, 16:37 CET
Illegal immigrants stage street protest as more enter Maltese waters
Jun 27, 2006, 17:15 CET
Immigrants back in detention centre after protest
Jun 21, 2006, 17:37 CET
Illegal immigrant assaults police constable
Jun 8, 2006, 08:12 CET
Immigrants in Court over protest
May 10, 2006, 10:07 CET
Ombudsman slams foreign report on illegal immigrants in Malta
Apr 4, 2006, 10:12 CET
Immigrants on the run caught
Mar 26, 2006, 18:51 CET
MEP to advise transfer of illegal immigrants
Mar 26, 2006, 10:34 CET
Three irregular immigrants still on the run
Mar 24, 2006, 18:02 CET
Media granted access to illegal immigrants' detention centres
Mar 23, 2006, 18:21 CET
1,061 granted humanitarian protection in 2005
Mar 21, 2006, 09:08 CET
Two men accused of helping illegal immigrants to escape
Mar 9, 2006, 16:42
Two Maltese charged with assisting immigrants to escape
Mar 7, 2006, 12:16
Illegal immigrants flee once more from detention centre
Mar 6, 2006, 17:00
Sudanese man detained in relation to illegal immigrants tragedy
Mar 4, 2006, 20:07
Police searching for runaway illegal immigrants
Mar 3, 2006, 11:00
Illegal immigrants caught at Freeport
Feb 27, 2006, 11:20
Illegal immigrants end protests
Feb 22, 2006, 16:35
More illegal immigrants deported to Egypt
Feb 21, 2006, 10:00
More stowaways caught at Freeport
Jan 20, 2006, 11:11
34 persons granted refugee status in 2005
Dec 30, 2005, 16:00
Government publishes Safi detention centre incidents report
Dec 13, 2005, 09:44 CET
40,000 illegal immigrants stopped from leaving Libya
Nov 27, 2005, 09:31 CET
Illegal immigrants refuse to enter Malta
Nov 18, 2005, 08:54 CET
Runaway illegal immigrants captured
Oct 15, 2005, 08:30 CET
Illegal immigrants fight in detention center
Oct 2, 2005, 12:33 CET
Illegal immigrant critical after boat overturns
Sep 27, 2005, 10:00 CET
Illegal immigrants flee from detention center
Aug 29, 2005, 10:31 CET
Mediterranean sea-storm claims life of 24 illegal immigrants
Aug 21, 2005, 11:00 CET
Very few illegal immigrants granted refugee statuss
Aug 16, 2005, 13:11 CET
130 asylum seekers reported missing at sea
Aug 4, 2005, 12:28 CET
Seven illegal immigrants feared dead
Jul 12, 2005, 16:25 CET
Illegal immigrants feared drowned
Jul 11, 2005, 21:34 CET
AFM suspends its search for illegal immigrants feared drowned
Jun 24, 2005, 15:30 CET
Illegal immigrant in failed suicide attempt
Jun 11, 2005, 18:22 CET
AFM assisting Italy in illegal immigrants’ search
May 25, 2005, 16:00 CET
More forensic exams on body found at sea
Apr 12, 2005, 10:00 CET
Autopsy reveals the woman had drowned
Apr 9, 2005, 16:45 CET
Maltese police meet Ragusa officials on Pozzallo tragedy
Apr 7, 2005, 09:15 CET
Pollazzo tragedy survivors give investigations new clues
Apr 1, 2005, 19:27 CET
12 persons arrested over Pozzallo tragedy
Mar 30, 2005, 18:12 CET
Maltese Police investigating Pozzallo tragedy
Mar 28, 2005, 17:21 CET
Authorities investigating death of six Chinese illegal Immigrants
Mar 25, 2005, 10:42 CET
Chinese illegal immigrants die at sea after leaving Malta
Mar 24, 2005, 17:38 CET
How do you treat someone who knocks on your door after a voyage full of dangers? You welcome him and treat him as a human being although you know that you cannot send him back and you must give shelter in your small home?
This is the situation in the Maltese Islands where the Government has to provide shelter to the hundreds of illegal immigrants who have come over in recent months. Being one of the most densely populated countries in the world, there aren’t many places where you can host hundreds of newcomers.
The Maltese Government has resisted calls to give more freedom of movement to these illegal immigrants on grounds of security. However illegal immigrants are becoming more and more frustrated, being locked up in detestation centres until their applications for asylum are processed. In the recent months a number of protests - at times with violent outcomes - broke out in a number of centres on the island. At times illegal immigrants and Members of the Armed Forces have been hurt, while at other times illegal immigrants have managed to flee the restricting conditions of the centres.
When these immigrants do get some freedom to roam our streets, they are welcomed by wary looks from the Maltese villagers and townsfolk. The colour of their skin and the way they came to Malta does not match the typical stereotyped freckled tourist coming from some European country to bask in the Maltese sun or appreciate the Maltese historical heritage.
Fewer migrants apply to become refugees
Aug 20, 2007, 18:31 CET
Report leads to improved detention system
Aug 16, 2007, 16:14 CET
Archbishop visits Ħal Far detention centre
Jul 31, 2007, 16:12 CET
"Integrating immigrants is impossible" - PM
Jul 6, 2007, 11:07 CET
18-year-old from Eritrea in danger of dying
Apr 8, 2007, 18:56CET
Migrant imprisoned for 28 years over murder
Feb 26, 2007 - 3:51 CET
Cardinal criticises Maltese detention policy
Feb 18, 2007, 10:49 CET
Man, youth in court after shooting refugee
Feb 13, 2007, 18:41 CET
Eritrean man seriously injured by a firearm
Feb 9, 2007, 17:36 CET
28 persons granted refugee status in 2006
Dec 30, 2006, 17:20 CET
Malta fails to provide data for racism report
Nov 29, 2006, 09:06 CET
Landing flights delayed after illegal immigrants flee
Nov 8, 2006, 11:04 CET
1,415 illegal immigrants reside in Open Centers
Nov 2, 2006, 11:15 CET
Algerian man jailed 18 months over human traffic
Oct 25, 2006, 16:09 CET
Soldiers, illegal immigrants injured in crash
Oct 12, 2006, 11:11 CET
Illegal immigrants complain about lack of jobs
Oct 2, 2006, 09:11 CET
Illegal immigrant in court over drug possession
Sep 27, 2006, 19:00 CET
Detention centres need money - Minister Borg
Jul 24, 2006, 16:10 CET
Rowdy incident erupts in detention centre
Jul 3, 2006, 13:10 CET
Expressed solidarity with police and army personnel injured
Jun 28, 2006, 16:37 CET
Illegal immigrants stage street protest as more enter Maltese waters
Jun 27, 2006, 17:15 CET
Immigrants back in detention centre after protest
Jun 21, 2006, 17:37 CET
Illegal immigrant assaults police constable
Jun 8, 2006, 08:12 CET
Immigrants in Court over protest
May 10, 2006, 10:07 CET
Ombudsman slams foreign report on illegal immigrants in Malta
Apr 4, 2006, 10:12 CET
Immigrants on the run caught
Mar 26, 2006, 18:51 CET
MEP to advise transfer of illegal immigrants
Mar 26, 2006, 10:34 CET
Three irregular immigrants still on the run
Mar 24, 2006, 18:02 CET
Media granted access to illegal immigrants' detention centres
Mar 23, 2006, 18:21 CET
1,061 granted humanitarian protection in 2005
Mar 21, 2006, 09:08 CET
Two men accused of helping illegal immigrants to escape
Mar 9, 2006, 16:42
Two Maltese charged with assisting immigrants to escape
Mar 7, 2006, 12:16
Illegal immigrants flee once more from detention centre
Mar 6, 2006, 17:00
Sudanese man detained in relation to illegal immigrants tragedy
Mar 4, 2006, 20:07
Police searching for runaway illegal immigrants
Mar 3, 2006, 11:00
Illegal immigrants caught at Freeport
Feb 27, 2006, 11:20
Illegal immigrants end protests
Feb 22, 2006, 16:35
More illegal immigrants deported to Egypt
Feb 21, 2006, 10:00
More stowaways caught at Freeport
Jan 20, 2006, 11:11
34 persons granted refugee status in 2005
Dec 30, 2005, 16:00
Government publishes Safi detention centre incidents report
Dec 13, 2005, 09:44 CET
40,000 illegal immigrants stopped from leaving Libya
Nov 27, 2005, 09:31 CET
Illegal immigrants refuse to enter Malta
Nov 18, 2005, 08:54 CET
Runaway illegal immigrants captured
Oct 15, 2005, 08:30 CET
Illegal immigrants fight in detention center
Oct 2, 2005, 12:33 CET
Illegal immigrant critical after boat overturns
Sep 27, 2005, 10:00 CET
Illegal immigrants flee from detention center
Aug 29, 2005, 10:31 CET
Mediterranean sea-storm claims life of 24 illegal immigrants
Aug 21, 2005, 11:00 CET
Very few illegal immigrants granted refugee statuss
Aug 16, 2005, 13:11 CET
130 asylum seekers reported missing at sea
Aug 4, 2005, 12:28 CET
Seven illegal immigrants feared dead
Jul 12, 2005, 16:25 CET
Illegal immigrants feared drowned
Jul 11, 2005, 21:34 CET
AFM suspends its search for illegal immigrants feared drowned
Jun 24, 2005, 15:30 CET
Illegal immigrant in failed suicide attempt
Jun 11, 2005, 18:22 CET
AFM assisting Italy in illegal immigrants’ search
May 25, 2005, 16:00 CET
More forensic exams on body found at sea
Apr 12, 2005, 10:00 CET
Autopsy reveals the woman had drowned
Apr 9, 2005, 16:45 CET
Maltese police meet Ragusa officials on Pozzallo tragedy
Apr 7, 2005, 09:15 CET
Pollazzo tragedy survivors give investigations new clues
Apr 1, 2005, 19:27 CET
12 persons arrested over Pozzallo tragedy
Mar 30, 2005, 18:12 CET
Maltese Police investigating Pozzallo tragedy
Mar 28, 2005, 17:21 CET
Authorities investigating death of six Chinese illegal Immigrants
Mar 25, 2005, 10:42 CET
Chinese illegal immigrants die at sea after leaving Malta
Mar 24, 2005, 17:38 CET
# produced by MaltaMedia News
