Parliament approved on Monday the final draft of the government’s Illegal Immigration Law after failing last week to approve it due to the absence of the required number of MPs for voting. MP Haitham Al-Hariri told Daily News Egypt that discussions on the law mainly focused on toughening the punishment on whoever assists with and facilitates the process of illegal immigration. He suggested improving the country’s economic situation and providing services for citizens, explaining that the reasons behind illegal immigration are due to poor conditions in the homeland. Social Solidarity Minister Ghada Waly said that if the parliament approved the Illegal Immigration Law, it will be the first law in the Middle East to counter the phenomenon. The minister’s comments came on Monday during the “National strategy to combat illegal immigration 2016-2020” conference held a few hours prior to the parliament’s approval of the law.

Source: Daily News Egypt October 17, 2016 18:00 UTC