Authorities 'dragging their feet' over granting detained migrants legal access

A lawyer who has been engaged to review the case of the group of migrants currently awaiting deportation at the Safi Detention Centre has informed this newspaper that authorities are dragging their feet in granting him access to his clients. 

Gianluca Capitta said that he said contacted the police’s community and media relations unit (CMRU) for clearance to speak with the detainees however authorities are dragging their feet in granting access. 

“I sent a request on the 14th December and was told that I needed to provide the names of each individual I wanted to speak to. I managed to obtain the names and police numbers of 20 of the detainees and provided CMRU with the details,” said Capitta. 

Once the police’s media office was provided with the required information, Capitta said that he contacted the police once again and was told that, Andrew Seychell - the assistant police commissioner in charge of immigration – had requested that Capitta provide the date of birth of each individual, as well as that he specify which the first name and last name of each detainee is. 

“The authorities are clearly dragging their feet but these people have a right lawyer. They are being detained with no contact with the outside world,” he said.

But home affairs minister Carmelo Abela denied this and said “I don’t have this information and as far as I know, NGOs have access to the migrants and this was confirmed by the NGOs themselves in a recent meeting.”

In comments to MaltaToday, Abela said the head of the detention centre has not denied access to any lawyers but said that he will personally verify whether the Capitta’s claims are true.

Abela also said that the detained people are now down to 24 from the 33 arrested last month, explaining that some ‘failed asylum seekers’ were released after providing the necessary documents and in one case a man was released after showing proof that he is a father of a small child. 

Asked when the people would be deported to Mali, Abela said that the delegation from the African country has interviewed the detainees and “we are waiting for the report by the identification mission and once the report is finalised they will then proceed.” 

They are expected to be deported as part of a deal signed between Mali and the EU. The deal will see the EU provide financial aid to the African country in return for it accepting to take back failed asylum seekers and for Mali stepping up its efforts to clamp down on human smuggling. 

The move has instilled fear amongst the migrant community in Malta and has raised the concern of civil society members and human rights NGOs who have argued that, while not strictly illegal, the decision to deport individuals, many of whom have been living in Malta for a number of years now, is inhumane and sends out the wrong message, since the detainees have been complying with the authorities and have also been working and contributing to the Maltese economy.

In a clear indictment of the Muscat administration’s joint-European deportation of  the long-term migrants from Malta President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca last week said “I believe that Malta should continue to host all those who live among us, or those who come to visit us, with the utmost love and respect. I am morally convinced that we should appreciate, and not condemn, persons who are helping to build our prosperity, and who form part of our society, by sending them back.”