Maltese people always had to migrate to foreign lands to make a living as work opportunities in our islands were until recently extremely limited. We had beggars all over the islands and people knocking on doors asking for bread. Poverty was rampant with no remedy except in extreme cases like when a widow prostituted herself to feed her children.

So Maltese and Gozitans from an early age migrated to foreign lands. Initially they worked in menial and hard-working jobs: cane cutting, building, refuse collection and other manual jobs. Jobs the locals there didn’t want to do. Over time several Maltese made a name for themselves, contributing to their family income by sending money from overseas. It was only very recently that this system of sending money ended.

All who migrated adopted to the customs and way of life of the country that welcomed them. The second and third generations then started seeking and getting high job positions.

Maltese communities also enriched their adopted countries where they settled keeping parts of our local heritage and culture.

Over the last years our islands started receiving a large influx of immigrants, both legal and illegal. They come from various countries, all with their particular habits, customs, clothing and religion and illiterate of our language and traditions.

As humanitarians, we are obliged to offer these legal and illegal immigrants shelter, financial help, free hospitalisation, education and jobs. The majority of locals are in agreement. But some issues stick out as to what people dislike.

First there is a saying that when in Rome do as the Romans do. So how is it that these immigrants who have travelled thousands of miles in search of a better life and settling here among us, still keep their customary habits?

Why is it that women and men keep their customary dress when our ways are contrary? There are many and various ways to dress in a proper fashion without offending one’s way of life. It is a relief to note that burkas, hijabs and other medieval-style face coverings are not seen in Malta. Forced marriages and honour reprises are also worrying, some may still be taking place.

So what is the issue for those who come to live here as they consider our life an amelioration and a better one to what they had before?

We have to deal with this issue before the numbers become more numerous and we start having protests like those held in Gżira by a different Muslim community to the one we peacefully had for many years in our midst.

A positive aspect of these immigrants is that they are taking over and doing jobs that many Maltese prefer not to do. This is what happened to Maltese who emigrated. If it weren’t for these people, sectors like construction, refuse collection, farming and other manual hard work would suffer from worker shortage.

One must also note that several of the immigrants coming here from war-torn countries have doctorates and high-level technical abilities in various fields. They should be helped to find employment in their specialities. We should help in making  work availability for them much easier as this will also directly enhance our workforce.

All administrations are obliged to see that the protection of their citizens comes first, while at the same time offer shelter to those in need

We also have genuine asylum seekers. We have an obligation to welcome and care for them until they can stand on their own two feet. The turmoil that is happening around us will cause more of these migrants to come here.

One has to make a difference between legal asylum immigrants and those who are illegal. Legal asylum has been going on for hundreds of years. But during wars this system changes drastically. Thus our onus is to provide shelter and refuge to these unfortunate people, but, there is a difference to those coming in an illegal way, that is illegal economical immigrants.

As far as I know, when one wants to go and reside in another country, one has to apply beforehand for a visa, and the decision rests with that country’s authorities to accept or refuse. This is the norm. What is happening in various countries around Europe is that thousands of these people are travelling across Europe without any documentation, which the majority throw away making it more difficult for authorities to repatriate them.

So long as it is verified internationally that a country is safe, then after establishing that an illegal person will have safe passage home, repatriation is acceptable.

Whenever a country dares to say that people are being repatriated, several humanitarian bodies start objecting that this is inhumane.

But is this inhumane in reality? If a local travels to another country without documentation and is sent back, what will they say? That this is inhumane, or that the authorities were right?

What happened recently in Europe is that the Schengen system, which was initially exceptionally good for Europeans, is in actual fact being abused of by terrorists who travel between countries without any border checks. What was originally an excellent idea initiating in Dublin is being turned completely to the disadvantage of locals. The question is how do we as Europeans keep our liberal systems but still see how these hard-core disillusioned people are able to travel unhindered?

If we as Europeans decided to take much more restrictive steps to safeguard our citizens, how will this be viewed? Many believe that European Union leaders have to take action to safeguard their citizens but not to restrict drastically their free movement. Who can dispute this? On the other hand, what if a traveller has to show his passport when crossing borders?

A popular proverb is that ‘charity begins at home’. All administrations are obliged to see that the protection of their citizens comes first, while at the same time offer shelter to those in need. For me integration does not mean separate schools, separate classes, separate radio programmes, which in my view is disrupting the British way of life.

These issues will continue to divide the locals and those choosing to live with us.

In Britain, extreme religious entities are led by people like Abu Hamza, who was an illegal immigrant in England, enjoying all social services including a large house for his family, financial welfare, education for his numerous children, hospitalisation, etc., while inciting extremists to take up arms against the locals. Due to a civil court case, the government couldn’t deport him. It was only after a deal was reached between Britain and Jordan that extradition was effected.

We have to learn from these experiences and prepare for these issues beforehand.

We can be kind in our humanitarian ways but with caution and learn lessons from elsewhere. The story of the Good Samaritan comes to mind. He took care of a sick person from a different tribe, while another from the same tribe passed by and didn’t even stop to help his countryman.

Another issue concerns the many foreigners from non-EU countries who come to live here. Some have criminal traits and one often reads of burglaries, harassments, thefts, violence and fights. I believe we also had murder cases.

More often than not the courts give suspended sentences. People are uneasy with these sentences and believe they should be deported to their country of origin.

Malta and the law-abiding Maltese do not need or want these kind of people and the soonest they are sent back, the better it is for one and all.

Lino Debono is a former Labour MP.