Democratic Party critical of ‘inhumane’ threats to deport Malta-born children of migrant families

Marlene Farrugia’s Democratic Party (PD) has proposed that children born in Malta should be integrated into Maltese society, saying that it is seriously concerned and deeply critical of the threats to deport children born to migrant families living in Malta.

Earlier this week, MaltaToday revealed that the children born in Malta to an Eriterean couple living in the country for 11 years will be deported once their parents' Temporary Humanitarian Protection – N(ew) [THP-n] expires in August 2017.

“Whilst the government has spoken of honouring EU obligations, deportation of children born and educated in Malta to a foreign country to which they have never been is inhumane. These children have integrated into our society: they are attending our schools, living in our towns and are friends with our own children,” the party said in a statement. “They are Maltese despite the fact that they are born to parents who were enjoying temporary humanitarian protection,” it added.

The PD also reiterate its concern about the Malian nationals who have been detained and are likewise facing deportation.

Addressing a political activity in San Gwann earlier this month, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat defended the police’s recent decision to detain a group of failed asylum seekers at the Safi detention centre in preparation of their deportation to Mali.

“The EU has signed agreements with third countries who are willing to accept their nationals who don’t qualify for asylum, and this is the first group of people that Malta will be deporting back to their country. Some people feel sorry for them because they have been in Malta for a long time, but we must send a sign that Malta is ready to deport anyone who is caught illegally,” he had said, insisting that the migrants will only be deported if their countries are origin are safe and that their human rights will be safeguarded by an EU “system”.

The Prime Minister’s comments were severely rebuked by PD leader and independent MP Marlene Farrugia, who accused him of hypocrisy.
“People who fled from persecution, terror and poverty, who have ended up victims of human trafficking, and who don’t have the contacts or money to buy a visa or citizenship will be kicked out,” she said in a Facebook post. “Meanwhile, more and more criminals and human traffickers are coming to Malta, because through their atrocities, they now have enough money to afford a visa or citizenship. The true establishment are those who are aware of all this, but choose to make an example out of the small fish while letting the big fish swim free.”

In its statement, PD called for Malta to “ lead Europe by example and to defend human rights.

“There is no 'Europe' concept if we do not uphold basic human rights and responsibilities. What has been rendered legal is not necessarily right, and as we take up the Presidency of the EU Council we should be on the forefront towards restoring the pillars of European existence, which are the basic European values.”