[WATCH] Tearful migrant at risk of losing protection status begs President for help

'We must stand collectively in solidarity with migrants against such rabid individualism' - President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca

Tearful migrant at risk of losing protection status begs President for help
Tearful migrant at risk of losing protection status begs President for help
'Where will I go? What about my children, who were born in Malta?' (Photo: James Bianchi/MediaToday)
'Where will I go? What about my children, who were born in Malta?' (Photo: James Bianchi/MediaToday)

There were emotional scenes at the President's palace this afternoon as Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca received a group of migrants and activists who have urged the government to revoke its decision to stop handing out Temporary Humanitarian Protection-New (THPn) statuses to failed asylum seekers.

Nigerian migrant and THPn holder Innocent Lokri was recounting his life and problems to the President, when he dropped to his knees and, with tears in her eyes, begged her to intervene to help him.

"Before I arrived in Malta, I had lived my whole life in misery. I was a fugitive but I managed to come to Malta and make a family, and we were all happy. Now the government has told us that we have to produce identity documents if we want to continue working and living here, and all my misery came flooding back. Where will I go? What about my children, who were born in Malta?"

Visibly moved, Coleiro Preca said she is dismayed at how migrants are being treated across the world in what she described as a "post-truth world".

"With the rise of populism and territorialism, such an act of solidarity could be an act of defiance to authority. Truth is on our side - retention must replace detention, and our brothers and sisters must be allowed to continue working productively in Malta as they have been doing for years. We must stand collectively in solidarity against such rabid individualism."

The delegation was led by Colin Calleja, a university lecturer who is part of a group organising a silent march for migrants this Sunday. He formally invited Coleiro Preca to the event, but although she didn't confirm her attendance, she pledged that "you will have my support now and in the future".

Calleja on Wednesday also invited MPs to attend the protest, but confirmed with MaltaToday that none have so far responded to his invitation.

THPn is an ex gratia type of protection that the Refugee Commissioner used to grant to failed asylum seekers, but the government recently decided to scrap it entirely. THPn holders have been given until 31 October to procure a valid passport from their countries of origin that will allow them to apply with Identity Malta for residence and work permits.

However, in his address to the President, Calleja warned that such a demand for passports is a near impossible feat for undocumented migrants.

“These migrants have been living and working in Malta for years and are now at risk of being dragged into poverty, social exclusion and abuse,” he said. “This decision will harm Maltese society as it risks fanning hate speech and xenophobia, and encouraging the extreme right to grow.

“On Sunday, we will take to the streets your message against racism, xenophobia, social exclusion and the exploitation of humans for profit.”