More illegal migrants arrive

Another 26 illegal immigrants landed at Zurrieq at about 4.30 p.m. yesterday.

The immigrants, who came from Algeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and, allegedly, from Palestine, were rounded up by the police within minutes of coming ashore.

The immigrants arrived on a 20-foot boat, similar to ones that immigration police have seen in the past when other immigrants landed or were brought to Malta.

This is the second time that immigrants have made shore at Zurrieq over the past two weeks. A group of 34 landed there on August 20.

There are now 800 illegal immigrants living in Malta, 500 of them in detention centres and 300 in open centres, having been given humanitarian assistance because of their particular circumstances.

Illegal immigration costs Maltese taxpayers about Lm1 million a year.