Government creates new department to counter illegal immigration

By Libya Herald staff.

Tripoli, 2 July 2014:

An anti-illegal immigration department has been created by the government to deal . . .[restrict]with the  problem of people-smuggling and other related issues.

The new department, an independent body within the Ministry of Interior, will be headquartered in Tripoli with branches in areas where illegal immigration is most prevalent.

The government says it has taken the decision in order to ensure a more coordinated policy in fighting illegal immigration. A large portion of the new organisation’s work will involve developing strategic plans to combat the phenomenon.

It also says that the new department is crucial to ensuring public order and reducing people-smuggling as well as infiltration by militant groups.

As the department begins its work it will create a database of those individuals currently being held in illegal immigration detention centres and those who are deported, as a means to spot any repeat offenders.

Border patrols are to increase as a part of the measures as authorities gather intelligence on those involved in people-smuggling and crack down on organised criminal groups managing the trafficking.

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