Tuesday, 27th October 2009

Detained Indian students to contest deportation

Kurt Sansone

The parents of five Indian students, detained by the police since Friday, yesterday told The Times they were very worried about the fate of their children.

The students, aged between 19 and 22, are in Malta on student visas to study at a logistics and management school in Ħamrun.

Yesterday, they were only allowed to communicate with their parents for five minutes.

Speaking through an interpreter, the parents said that before this, the last time they had heard from their children was on Friday afternoon when their mobile phones were confiscated by the police.

"It was only yesterday we spoke to them again for five minutes," the concerned parents said.

The students, Boskey Patel, Firoz Diwan, Suhasini Parmar, Robert Chettiar and Amarjeet Bajwa, are supposed to be in Malta for a full academic year.

A spokesman for the police confirmed that five Indian nationals, two women and three men, had been detained on Friday and a removal order to deport them back to India was issued against them.

"They were issued with student visas but from school records it transpired they skipped school. Furthermore, they had no money to sustain themselves," the spokesman said.

Regular school attendance is a condition that goes with student visas.

However, the parents have contested the police action: "Our children are not terrorists. They are in Malta legally."

The students yesterday met with the representative of the Indian Consulate Johann Cuschieri and are expected to appeal the removal order in the coming days.

The reason why the students did not go to school remains unclear and Mr Cuschieri insisted he did not want to pre-judge the court appeal where more details would emerge.

The students were reported to the police by the school authorities. The director of SSM School, Alexander Borg, defended his school's actions.

"When a visa is issued to students I am responsible for them. We verbally warned them more than once and then got them to sign an agreement that they will attend school regularly.

"When they continued to be absent we were left with no option but to report them to the police," he said, insisting the obligation to inform the police was a condition imposed by visa regulations.

Mr Borg said he would not be taking the students back.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Friday, March 12, 2010. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

michael stockdale(on 28/10/09)

@ Robert Azzopardi If you read my comments i did not say that Bulgarians and Romanians could not work in Malta because like you and i they can work here as it is part of the EU. What i said there was many of these Bulgarians and Romanians working in Malta without paying taxes and national insurance i know that for fact from the places i go to in Malta.They need to get back to the old ways get out of the EU let the country prosper again we have enough of our own criminals here and we do not need all these low class people from Eastern Europe and India.I go to India regularly there are plenty of places to study there than having to come to malta and get what they can get like in the uk.Get read of this robbing government and get back to like it was 10 years ago otherwise this lovely country will end up like the UK and will probably end up with a foreign government

lgalea(on 28/10/09)

J. J. Borg
Perhaps the authorities will take action against those who want to destroy the Maltese nation by inundating it with foreigners, illegal immigrats and foreign settlers who steal the work from Maltese workers in our own country and also encourage illegal immigration.

Ganesh Desai You and they knew what were the conditions for giving you your visa. They did not abide by the conditions so they became illegals and should be expelled. We are fed up with foreigners expecting us to allow them to do whatever they want when they are in our country. We have our own laws and foreigners must respect them. As they say when in Rome do as the Romans do and if you don't like it leave or don't come here.

Francis Bellizzi You are perfectly correct. Student visas are just a very biog scam. Don't they have schools in their own countries?

malcolm seychell All illegals should be expelled not allowed to remain here.

Ganesh Desai(on 28/10/09)

I am one of the students and lucky due to medical reasons i am in india and this things happend with my fellow students
i read the comments of many of them and one thing is common they say about working illegally but nowhere in the report thhere is mention they are arrested working illegaly somewhere but fact is they are arrested from their classs room from the school
important is people atleast ask studdents why they did not go to school ??

before listening them why all of you statretd giving judgements

and as per my knowledge many of these students have attended more than 80 % classes
and 4 out of these five have also passed their first modules with excellent marks

Francis Bellizzi(on 28/10/09)

The school authorities were correct to report these so called students to the police. They obtained these visas under false pretences.I suppose next step for them is to claim asylum. So called student visas are a big scam. The UK is full of " foreign students." Once they get past the authorities they disappear and start working illegally. Malta is used like a sponge and it is running dry!

J. J. Borg(on 27/10/09)

Ms. Robinson: I encourage you to expose the shameful attitudes of many Maltese toward people of different color. Perhaps the authorities will then start to take action against racial intolerance on these islands.

malcolm seychell(on 27/10/09)

Next time they should come illegally.

they will have free meals, education etc etc.

No need to work, just go to your lessons!!!

Vera qed naqaw fil baxx fejn tidhol il ligi

Denis Catania(on 27/10/09)

@Michael Mifsud: If your cousin breaks any of his visa obligations ans stops going to school. Your cousin will become an illegal immigrant and should be deported back to Malta so they can make room for a legitimate student.

lgalea(on 27/10/09)

Robert Azzopardi
While we have to lump the Maltese criminals we do not have to lump the foreign ones, especially those who come here illegally. No one has the right except eu citizens since we have to allow them in to come and stay here and rob Maltese citizens of their work.

They broke their visa conditions notwithstanding that they have been warned several times so they can be deported for not observing the conditions upon which the visa was issued.

Denis Catania(on 27/10/09)

@Trinity Robinson: You should write an article on why students should not abuse thier student visa and make an example of these Indian students. This will help legitiment students whether brown, black or yellow get accepted into schools. Mr Robinson please understand there was 5 students who couildn't get in to this school, because of these 5 students.

Anthony Roberts(on 27/10/09)

If anyone watches programmes on Living regarding passport control you would have seen many stories about illegal entrances into various countries. The most common was so called foreign students entering a country with a student visa with no intention of attending any form of education. This is what has obviously happened here and is another form of illegal immigration. The fact that these Indian 'students' were reported and threatened with deportation is a positive sign. This is type of illegal immigration could be seen as an undercover way of entering our country and depriving the Maltese of jobs without anyone getting to know. There is also tax evasion because in other countries the money they earn gets sent out of the country. So it's not a case of what's good for one is not good for the other - illegal immigration must be dealt with and as far as I can see this is what the authorities are trying to do.

c. camilleri(on 27/10/09)

This is how things should be done. Well done to the Head of the School Mr. Borg and the police. Many suppose students and other foreigners come over here to have a good time and abuse our hospitality. Action like this give the right message.

Michael Mifsud(on 27/10/09)

@ Joe Cordina. Since when studying legally (with a VISA) in another country is "illegal immigration"? I have my cousin studying in USA and she needed a VISA to do so. According to your logic she is an illigal immigrant in the USA. And according to some people here, she should be arrested, detained and deported back to Malta if she fails to attend some lessons. Malta is becoming increasingly racist. That is the main issue here!

Robert Azzopardi(on 27/10/09)

@Trinity Robinson

I apologise on behalf of a few of my countrymen that you were treated so poorly. I assure that not everyone on the Maltese isles shares xenophobic ideologies.

Joe Cordina(on 27/10/09)

This is another form of illegal immigration.. Yes the authorities should take action where abuse is present

Robert Azzopardi(on 27/10/09)

I simply love this exchange of intelligent views!:)
Igalea you always have so many pearls of wisdom to share with us humble commoners, had you read my comment correctly you would have noticed that I only defend the ones within the ambit of legality and condemn illegality, but nevermind people like you only see what THEY want. With regards to your comment on who is commiting crime in malta, you seem to forget the Maltese in Soho (not so long ago is it my friend?) ps ever checked which nationality are those animals who rob, beat and at times kill the elderly in their own home in malta?

Michael Stockdale, I think if you checked properly you would realise that there is no such thing as an EU citizen working illegaly in another EU country. ( do you know what freedom of movement within the EU means?) it means you DONT need a work permit. I find it admirable that foreign students, while studying at Uni in Malta work to help pay off a bit of the bills while most of their maltese counterparts depend on mummy and daddy! Anti-social behaviour comment is too generic!

Etienne Bonanno(on 27/10/09)

Hold on - let me get this straight. We have thousands of illegal immigrants gatecrashing our shores, entering illegally, for the most part contributing nothing to our society and costing us oodles of cash out of our coffers to maintain. Those we welcome with open arms.

But we have 5 Indian kids who are here perfectly legally, probably paying through the nose for the privilege of studying at this godforsaken school in Hamrun - and we arrest them, terrorize them, deny them communication with their parents and threaten to deport them, why? Because they play truant?!?

ARE WE OUT OF OUR MINDS?!?

lgalea(on 27/10/09)

Trinity Robinson
The Maltese people are acting that way because of the massive invasion of African illegal immigrants that we have been having these last few years with all the problems that this has brought with it including the many millions that we can ill-afford spent on illegal immigrants especially those coming from Africa and bringing their own countries problems with them. You may be interested to know how many instances of disturbances and destruction of their quarters were made by these African illegal immigrants, turning their quarters into pigsties within a week, the many times they have attacked our security forces and other violent crimes, including murder, prostitution, drug trafficking, inter-clan and inter tribal fighting etc. This is apart from being caught stealing etc etc. As the saying goes, once bitten twice shy, and that's why salespersons may have been following you around when shopping or perhaps saying "oh another African". So you see Trinity, you have to know what led to Maltese people to act that way before you can reach your conclusions in your write-up.

Michael Mifsud(on 27/10/09)

Some of you are missing the salient points which are:
- these are STUDENTS and not WORKERS
- they are here in Malta LEGALLY and not ILLEGALLY
- they have not broken any law
- they just failed to attend some lessons

Let us say some of you go to study in USA and fail to attend some lessons. Then, according to your logic the American Police should arrest you, detain you and deport you back to Malta and your names splashed in the newspapers with prominence.

Phil Press(on 27/10/09)

Awaiting, with baited breath, the first boat load of eskimo's to arrive. They seem to be the only ones, not to know about Malta's charity. (but only for illegals).

Joanne Micallef(on 27/10/09)

I think they would have learnt their lesson by now. I’m sure this experience as been a shocker for them which will undoubtedly help them learn to respect the trust their parents put in them and for the future to honor any legal documents given.

Dr John Damai(on 27/10/09)

A job well done by our authorities. Clearly, if these individuals were not showing up for classes, and did not have any financial means to support themselves, their intentions were illegal.

Trinity Robinson(on 27/10/09)

As a tourist I've found it a bit hillarious to see the Maltese staring at my brown skin in either curiousity or obvious disgust whenever I'm walking around. I can almost hear their thoughts "oh, another African" or maybe "they're invading our country!" And oh how RUDE the sales girls are in the stores, either ignoring me or following me around while I choose my goods, as if I'm going to steal something! I can understand hating the fact that illegal immigrants are pouring in from all sides - I hate that too, in my country. But Maltese people need to realize that not everyone of a different skin colour is here to rob, pillage or seek asylum. Some of us come to see the beauty of Malta, spend our money, and then go back to our beloved home countries. Malta is gorgeous, but I can't say the same for the racist attitudes of the Maltese. As a travel writer I'm going to be doing a piece on this strange experience. I came with the intention of doing a historic//tourism travel article, but have switched gears.

michael stockdale(on 27/10/09)

It appears all these people want to congregate on Malta but what for it is so expensive here.It appears most of the Bulgarians and Romanians in Malta are working here illegally in kitchens of restaurants bars and shops they do not contribute anything to the Maltese economy and most are anti social.And in Paceville you find the Russians working in bars or as prostitutes without a work permit.Isnt it time Malta pulled out of the EU AND EURO and got the economy back to how it was ten years ago when it use to prosper.And as for Romanians all they seem to be good at in Malta,France and the UK is robbing people get Malta back to the old days it was alot better

lgalea(on 27/10/09)

martin gauci You are perfectly correct except that Romania and Bulgaria are in the eu. Add Sri Lankans, Pakistanis, Indians, Chinese, Thais, Vietnamese and every other race all competing with and ousting Maltese workers in our own country due to accepting miserly wages and working conditions. The Government is in hibernation because such workers serve those who contribute to the thousands of euros coming out of different pockets during collection time.

Michael Mifsud
EU citizens have the right to come here and work. Others from other countries do not.

Robert Azzopardi It's disgusting how people like you try to defend those who are here illegally or trying to do something illegally. When Maltese people left in their thousands they went to countries who WANTED immigration legally, after extensive health checks and education certificates and were also tested again when they arrived, so they have absolutely nothing in common with these Indian and an other nationality citizens who are simply abusing the system. As for Bulgarians and Romanians everyone can see who are those who time and time again are caught pickpocketing and stealing money from ATMs, shops etc..

E.Muscat You are right. Welcome to Mogavallettadishu.

Michael Mifsud(on 27/10/09)

@ David Buttigieg & Michael Zarb. According to the newspaper, these students were in Malta legally as they had a VISA. Apparently their only crime was the fact that they failed to attend School regularly. When I mentioned people from EU countries working illegally in Malta I was referring to those who might be exploited by employers by giving them salaries below the minimum wage and do not register them as employees with the local authorities.

So my question remains: If not attending School is a crime, is discrimination taking place between one country and another?

Robert Azzopardi(on 27/10/09)

Ok here we go with the usual exchange of comments. I'll play along.
@E.Muscat Maltese people who emigrated did it for the same reasons that other people do, in search for a better life and a better standard of living. Fact it was easier for them as the economies of their host countries (Australia in particular) required cheap labour (aka unskilled), meaning menial jobs that Australians would not want. Fact they did NOT have it easy there either and where discriminated against as well. With regards to your comment on having Valletta becoming Mogadishu, well that highly unlikely and Somali citizens (political refugees) have a right to asylum under a myriad of conventions that we are signatory to so don't even go there. Those who do NOT have the right should be dealt with differently, I'm talking about economic refugees.

E.Muscat(on 27/10/09)

@Robert Azzopardi:the maltese emigrants did so to countries who had asked for them to come:these countries were very careful to only let in skilled people who could earn a good living wage and could easily integrate in the respective country and their economies needed new skilled worked and each have an area of 3 million square miles(Australia,Canada and the US):this is why we are xenophobic to the african invasion!
It is very depressing to go to Valletta and at the entrance you start thinking you are entering mogadishu.

Robert Azzopardi(on 27/10/09)

It never ceases to amaze me, the xenophobia of Maltese people is now bordering the disgusting. It has gone beyond intolerance, and has reached unprecedented proportions, I wonder if these arguments would have stuck in the days when the Maltese where leaving the islands in their thousands. Anyway that's beyond the point, if a person (regardless of colour, race, creed or nationality) is in a country illegaly or has broken the law of that country, then that person should face repercussions. If no law has been broken then they have all the right, to work, study or whatever else they choose within the limits of the law. For crying out loud! stop asking for blood! stop calling out for witch hunts! you are simply embarassing yourselves.
@ Martin Gauci FYI Romanian and Bulgarian citizens are EU citizens just as much as you are my dear friend, ergo have the same freedom of movement within the Union as much as you do (or perhaps you feel superior to them???) Non-EU nationals should fulfill certain criteria.
Thankyou

Michael Zarb(on 27/10/09)

@Michael Mifsud

I am not sure whether your comment regarding students from EU holds any water. EU citizens enjoy freedom of movement in any EU country.

David Buttigieg(on 27/10/09)

@Michael Mifsud
"It is interesting to get to know whether the Immigration Police do the same for students who arrive from EU countries but fail to attend School (some of them might be in Malta to work in the black economy as well while being disguised as students). "

Uhmm, you do know that EU students (and any EU citizen) can work here legally, do not need ANY form of VISA to stay here and certainly are not obliged to attend school to stay here.?

Maltese students can do the same in any other EU country too, you DO know what the EU is don't you?

E.Muscat(on 27/10/09)

It is quite obvious that these indians are illegal immigrants and they are just waiting to find an opportunity to go to Europe:the same scam as the chinese students used to use or are still using.And then we send to prison africans who try to escape from here. If that boat with 300 immigrants made it to Malta in the last weekend it would cost us a minimum 1 million euro annually more :no wonder we are short of money!

Michael Mifsud(on 27/10/09)

It is interesting to get to know whether the Immigration Police do the same for students who arrive from EU countries but fail to attend School (some of them might be in Malta to work in the black economy as well while being disguised as students). And by the way, have the Police read the report about absenteeism by Maltese students? I sincerely hope that this is not a case of discriminating between one country and another.

martin gauci(on 27/10/09)

Well done to the Police and the school for prompt action. These people are only here to abuse the system. Get them deported immediately. And while we are at it, check what Rumanians, Bulgarians and Serbs and Philipinos are doing in Malta too.

lgalea(on 27/10/09)

This simply shows that "students" are abusing their visa and being students is only an excuse for them to be in Malta perhaps working on the black economy and doing God knows what. Otherwise, why didn't they go to their lectures and continued to be absent despite being warned? They should be deported forthwith and no excuses accepted because otherwise anyone who is given a visa will do whatever s/he wants and claim that he cannot be deported because they are legally here. The UK is a perfect example of such students who use their visa to vanish and remain in the country.

Detained Indian students to contest deportation

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