Legal News

The Italian Navy has rescued more than 500 migrants – including 100 children – in an overnight operation off the coast of Sicily.

More than 200 women and children were rescued on Monday (19/05/14) and a further 281 men were brought ashore on Tuesday, after bad weather hampered the rescue operation.

The migrants are of mainly of African origin and were trying to reach Europe. Some of the rescued passengers are babies and Save the Children has warned that increasing numbers of children are being sent across the Mediterranean in boats without any adult with them.

In the year to April 2014, a total of 26,644 illegal immigrants reached Italy – out of the 3,848 children among them, 2,744 had travelled alone.

In the year to April 2013, a total of 3,362 illegal immigrants reached Italy – 58 children arrived with their family and 522 travelled alone.

The illegal immigrants rescued this week come from Syria, Egypt and Bangladesh, according to a Daily Mail report.

Last week, Libya warned that if Europe does not do more to help with the number of refugees flooding the country in an attempt to reach the EU via the Mediterranean, it would begin to facilitate their transportation to Europe.

The Italian Navy came to the rescue again this week as part of Operation Mare Nostrum, which saves migrants who get into trouble while crossing the Mediterranean – often in small vessels, which are not equipped to cope with the number of passengers on board or the sometimes choppy currents during crossings.

Around 170 migrants have died so far this year trying to reach Europe.

Italy has also called for help from the rest of Europe in tackling the problem of rising numbers of refugees fleeing war zones in Africa and the Middle East – claiming that without help, Italy would be transformed into “the prison of political refugees”.

Last year, hundreds of illegal immigrants drowned when their boat took on water off the Italian island of Lampedusa.

The European Commission has stepped up monitoring of the Mediterranean to detect migrant boats before they get into trouble.

The Home Office estimates that one-fifth of illegal immigrants arriving in Europe heads for the UK – and most make for northern European countries such as France and Germany. Italy has said that it will help refugees travel to northern Europe if the EU does not help with the influx of migrants making their way from Africa to its shores.

The UK Border Agency has recently introduced anti-trafficking units to major UK ports and entry points such as Heathrow and Gatwick airports, to detect people and children trafficked into the UK before they disappear into the sex trade or into Britain’s modern-day “slave trade” and are placed in employment by a trafficking gang for little or no wages.

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of immigration solicitors and can advise migrants to the UK on matters such as illegal entry to Britain and asylum in the UK, including asylum appeals.

Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors can also advise migrants to the UK on British citizenship, marriage in the UK (including spouse visas), right to work in the UK – and detention pending deportation from the UK.

For expert legal advice on UK immigration law and asylum, contact Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 020 7923 4020.