Algeria to Host International Conference on Illegal Immigration
Written by The Media Line Staff
Published Monday, September 22, 2008

Algeria will host an international conference on September 28 to be attended by 13 ambassadors and experts focusing on combating illegal immigration, the Maghrebia News reported.

The conference will focus on curbing illegal immigration to Spain and Italy.

Algeria, together with Morocco, are the two major way stations for immigrants from sub-Sahara Africans heading for Europe due to their geographical closeness. However, during the last couple of months Algeria has stepped up its efforts to limit the number of illegal immigrants entering the country.

According to official figures 12,000 illegal immigrants entered last year, a steep increase from previous years with an estimated 33,000 illegal immigrants of 53 nationalities who entered the country since 2002. Of those, around 27,000 were sent back to their countries of origin and 4,000 were arrested for various crimes such as drug dealing and violence.

Earlier this year the Algerian daily A-Shurouq reported the country would increase fivefold its budget for combating illegal immigration, and that a large proportion of this money would be invested in transporting illegal immigrants back to their country of origin.

On August 31 a new penal code was approved by the government that criminalizes illegal immigration and a person who is found guilty can be sentenced to up to six months in jail. The new penal code also includes harsher punishment for traffickers who coordinate smuggling networks.

Meanwhile, a boat carrying 83 illegal migrants that left Egypt three days ago heading for Greece has gone missing. There are no reports of the boat reaching its destination.

Analysts at The Media Line said that with both Algeria and Morocco increasing their efforts to halt the flow of illegal immigrants, many are now forced to take the longer and hence more risky journey from Egypt to reach Europe.
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