Illegal migrants crossing to the Algarve increasingThe Algarve is increasingly being sought after by illegal immigrants as a gateway to the European continent and in recent months this trend has been rising. Over the past six months the Algarve region has seen 48 illegal immigrants from North Africa entering the country, with the last case recorded on 15 June in Vale do Lobo, when a vessel with 22 Moroccan migrants was intercepted. In December 2019, a group of eight immigrants arrived on the Algarve coast and in January this year 11 Moroccan citizens were detected off the island of Armona, in the municipality of Olhão. “What we want with Morocco is to open a mechanism for legal and prepared migration,” he said, arguing that illegal immigration should be the object of investigation and legal treatment. As long as they are not considered illegal immigrants and returned to their countries, groups of migrants will continue to try to reach the Algarve coast in boats, said Pina who is also the president of the Intermunicipal Community of the Algarve (AMAL).

Source: The North Africa Journal June 19, 2020 01:30 UTC