Updated 5.15pm - Added NGOs' statement

Police yesterday rounded up 33 men living in Malta and are keeping them in detention, the Home Affairs Ministry has confirmed. 

In a statement issued this afternoon, the ministry said the men would remain in detention until an "African delegation" visited Malta, identified them and "decided on the next steps".

Confirmation comes after NGOs reported that the men had been whisked to Safi detention centre without explanation. 

Many of the detained men have been living and working in Malta for more than a decade, with most believed to be from Mali. 

The unannounced roundup came mere days after failed asylum seekers were told that their 'temporary humanitarian protection new' status would not be renewed, pending a review. 

In a statement, the Home Affairs Ministry indicated that only one of the 33 detained had THPN status, and had been subsequently released. The remaining 32 would remain in detention. 

They were given an appointment for yesterday, but when they showed up they were just taken away without warning

The ministry justified the men's detention by saying it formed part of an EU initiative working in collaboration with five priority countries: Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Mali and Senegal. 

The EU describes the European External Action Service project's aim as that of "deepening cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination" and Brussels is already negotiating a "readmission agreement" with Nigeria. 

While those in Malta legally would be afforded full protection, the ministry said, "the government is committed... to return those who do not qualify, as was always the custom, according to European laws and directives." 

One migrant who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed that the men were arrested after being told to report to a police station to collect temporary documentation. 

"They were given an appointment for November 14 [yesterday], but when they showed up they were just taken away without warning," they said. Many other men and women were now fearing for their fate, they added. 

Migrants 'stripped of their identity'

Meanwhile, 16 NGOs said this afternoon they are extremely concerned at the arbitrary decision taken by the ministry to suspend the renewal of THPN pending a review of this status.

This decision has effectively stripped men, women and children of their identity documentation with severe implications on their ability to access employment, healthcare, education and other basic services, the NGOs said.

"Overnight, and without a clear plan of action, the ministry has thrown people into the dark about their future by robbing them of the little security THPN provided. The ministry must be made aware of the human consequences of this decision, whereby rights granted are being unfairly and cruelly withdrawn."

While the organisations said that in principle, they welcomed a review of THPN status, they urgently urged the ministry to immediately revoke the decision to suspend renewals of THPN status, reinstate the suspended THPN, and engage in dialogue.

In a statement, Partit Demokratiku expressed concern about the news. 

"These people have been living, working and paying taxes in Malta, some for several years, and it is inhuman they have been treated this way without redress or an explanation," the party said.

It accused the "ostensibly socialist" government of hypocrisy in allowing people with no interest in Malta to buy passports, while those who had fully integrated into society risked sudden deportation. 

THPN review

The government's decision to detain the men comes a few days after the Home Affairs ministry decided to review the THPN system. 

Those whose THPN status has expired have been told that their status will not be renewed until the review is complete, rendering them effectively undocumented and with no formal means of identification. 

'Temporary Humanitarian Protection New' status (THPN) is granted to men and women who are not eligible for refugee status but who nevertheless cannot be returned to their home countries through no fault of their own for legal or factual reasons. Applicants must fulfil some integration criteria to qualify. 

It is renewable on a yearly basis, at the discretion of the Refugee Commissioner - a role assumed by lawyer Martine Cassar one month ago

A review of the current system is now underway, with government sources saying Dr Cassar was pushing for Identity Malta to assume responsibility for the THPN system.

The decision to halt THPN renewals pending the review means migrants have been left undocumented overnight, NGOs said. With no documentation, these men and women cannot withdraw money from banks, cash cheques, access healthcare facilities, or do anything else that requires valid ID. 

Leaving migrants undocumented may also run counter to Malta's obligations under the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 

Aditus director Neil Falzon wrote in a blog that NGOs had long been pushing for a review of the THPN system, but that this sudden administrative decision had come like a bolt from the blue. 

NGOs had been "wholly excluded" from the review process and the Home Affairs ministry had yet to reply to a letter seeking clarification from NGOs, Dr Falzon noted in his blog post. 

 Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly used the term 'resettle' in relation with the EU project involved. The correct term is 'readmit'. 

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.