Extending Malta’s family reunification policy to allow Syrians living on the island to bring their relatives over could further increase “migration pressures” on the country, according to a government spokesman.
The matter is being studied as part of the drafting of a holistic immigration policy, the Home Affairs Ministry spokesman said.
Only people granted refugee status, a small minority of irregular migrants landing in Malta, are allowed to bring their families.
Syrian migrants who arrived after civil war broke out in their country in 2011 were granted what is known as subsidiary protection.
Extending family reunification rights is desirable in principle
This allows them to remain here for fear they may be harmed if repatriated but does not amount to refugee status and does not entitle them to bring their family over.
Earlier this month, a group of 10 NGOs wrote to the Prime Minister asking him to relax the rules on family reunification. They wrote the letter ahead of a pledging ministerial conference organised by the UNHCR on December 9 in Geneva to discuss the resettlement of about 130,000 displaced Syrians.
Acknowledging Malta’s limitations, the NGOs urged the government to do its part by pledging to relax the rules in relation to Syrians residing in Malta given the crisis in their country.
Esmaeil Khalaf, 41, one such Syrian, has not seen his wife and four children since he came to Malta by boat in August 2013 hoping he would pave the path to safety for them.
However, so far, the government has not allowed them to be brought over even though his two young sons – Moatasem, six, and Muhammed, 11 – suffer from a blood disorder that requires monthly transfusions in a country where supplies are running out.
His brother, Rami, 32, is in a similar situation as he has not been allowed to bring over his family who are in a camp in Jordon.
He arrived a few months ago with his eldest daughter, Fatima, six, who witnessed the death of her sister, Asma, three, when she was hit by a bomb in Damascus. He last saw his wife, Nesma Youssef, when she was pregnant with their daughter, Baraa, now four months old.
Answering questions by Times of Malta, a government spokesman said that, while extending family reunification rights “is desirable in principle”, Malta was already exposed to significant migration pressures and “extensions could mean more pressure on our country”. The spokesman added that Malta was in compliance with EU rules but underscored that the matter was being discussed with NGOs.
When Carmelo Abela was appointed Home Affairs Minister this month, succeeding Manuel Mallia who was forced to step down following a shooting incident involving his driver, he met NGOs to discuss migration issues and detention policy. This was after the government released the report by judge Geoffrey Valenzia into the death of Malian migrant Mamadou Kamara in 2012.
Mr Kamara had suffered a fatal heart attack when detention officers allegedly kneed him in the groin. Autopsy reports, included in the inquiry, indicate that the 30-year-old had died in severe agony.
The inquiry also looked into the unexplained death of Nigerian Ifeanye Nwokoye, who was found dead the previous year.
A spokeswoman for the Home Affairs Ministry said meetings with NGOs had started and the plan was to consult stakeholders to draw up a holistic immigration policy.