The Interior Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU) Emad Al-Trabelsi, who also heads the High Committee for Monitoring Illegal Immigration and Border Security, held a meeting with the Deputy UN Humanitarian Envoy, as well as representatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and UNICEF, to discuss the issue of illegal immigration and its security, economic, and social impacts on Libya.
The meeting reviewed the Interior Ministry’s efforts to combat and reduce illegal immigration, emphasizing the need to strengthen voluntary return programs for illegal immigrants to their countries of origin, or resettle them in third countries—steps aimed at addressing the challenges posed by this phenomenon.
This meeting comes amid growing public discontent in Libya over the increasing number of immigrants and fears of their permanent settlement in the country.
Meanwhile, the UN mission expressed deep concern over what it described as a “misinformation campaign fueling tension in Libya and inciting hate speech against refugees and migrants.”
Last week, Al-Trabelsi announced the Interior Ministry’s readiness to form a specialized security force to protect Libya’s southern borders during an emergency meeting of the High Committee on Illegal Immigration and Border Security.
