Latest news with #Libya
Bloomberg
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Why Is Trump Deporting Migrants to ‘Third Countries'?
President Donald Trump's crackdown on undocumented immigrants has raised concerns about one of his controversial deportation methods: sending noncitizens to countries other than their own — like South Sudan or Libya — with little notice. A sharply divided US Supreme Court on June 23 temporarily cleared the way for the government to resume deportations to so-called third countries. That decision paused a lower court's order requiring deportees get 10 days' notice of their removal and a chance to argue they would be at risk of persecution or torture in the country they would be sent to.
Zawya
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Statement on recent demonstrations, incendiary rhetoric and rumors against United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) affirms its uncompromising respect for the right of all citizens to demonstrate peacefully and to express their views freely. Direct engagement with the Libyan people is a cornerstone of our work, and we are always prepared to meet, engage in discussions and listen to the views of the Libyan people which includes listening to the concerns of peaceful protesters. We have had protests outside our premises on a number of occasions and we receive their petitions as has been the practice with all previous demonstrations and will continue to do so. Recently on Tuesday UNSMIL met with a group of protestors at its premises to listen to their demands and concerns, and we were able to have a mutually respectful discussion. However, UNSMIL is dismayed by statements purportedly from some Libyan political figures that appear to encourage not just demonstrations but going further to actively encourage unlawful actions against UN personnel and property. UNSMIL has always welcomed constructive criticism; however, incitement campaigns and rumors being waged against the Mission could also be an indication of an effort to undermine the advancement of any progress toward the development of a political process, which is aimed at the holding of national elections and unified institutions to achieve lasting peace and stability in Libya. We remind all parties of their obligation to maintain the peaceful character of any demonstration, and refrain from actions, and to commit to resolving differences through constructive dialogue. UNSMIL also recalls the 1946 Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and the relevant agreement concluded between the United Nations and the Libyan authorities, which guarantee the inviolability of United Nations premises. All parties are urged to respect the inviolability of United Nations premises, its personnel, and its property and assets in accordance with international law. UNSMIL remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting a Libyan-led political process for the benefit of all Libyan people and will continue to monitor all developments closely. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Syrians in Libya Struggle to Escape ‘Exile in Limbo'
About seven months ago, a group of 25 Syrian youths, including minors, set off from Libya on an irregular migration journey toward Europe. Only four made it back alive. The rest drowned in the Mediterranean. The tragedy, which left a deep mark on Syrian communities both in Libya and abroad, has drawn renewed attention to the large and diverse Syrian population now living in the North African country, some fleeing the war in Syria under former President Bashar al-Assad, others settled there long before. Syria's presence in Libya is far from monolithic. It spans businessmen, migrant laborers, families who settled during the rule of Muammar Gaddafi, and former fighters now working as mercenaries. Many also see Libya as a temporary stop on the perilous path to Europe. For most, Libya is not the destination but a gateway. The recent drowning of 21 Syrians in the Mediterranean was not an isolated tragedy, but part of a pattern of loss that has haunted the community for years. Reports from local and international migration watchdogs have documented repeated drownings and arrests of Syrians at sea, with many captured by Libya's coastguard and detained in overcrowded jails. Despite the risks, many Syrians have managed to adapt to life in Libya, integrating into local communities and participating in its economy. Yet numerous challenges persist, particularly for undocumented workers and those living without valid residency papers. Many report facing discrimination, abuse, and difficult working conditions. As thousands of Syrian refugees across the Middle East prepare to return home amid improving conditions and relaxed restrictions, Syrians in Libya remain stuck, unable to stay, and unable to leave. 'We're caught in the middle,' said one Syrian resident in Tripoli. 'We can't endure much longer, but we also can't afford to go back.' Many Syrians in Libya say they are increasingly vulnerable to exploitation, including passport confiscation and harassment by armed groups and criminal gangs operating with impunity. Several Syrian residents told Asharq Al-Awsat they are facing rising unemployment, frequent kidnappings, and demands for ransom by militias. For those who now wish to return to Syria, doing so has become financially prohibitive due to hefty fines for visa violations. Steep Penalties for Overstaying Under a revised Libyan immigration law enacted on March 14, 2024, foreigners who overstay their visas or residency permits are charged 500 Libyan dinars - around $90 - per month. The regulation adds a significant burden for many Syrians whose legal documents have expired and who lack the resources to renew them or pay the fines required to exit the country legally. Due to the political division in Libya since 2014, no official statistics exist on the number of foreign residents. However, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported in 2020 that approximately 14,500 Syrian refugees and asylum seekers were living in Libya. Ten years after arriving in Libya, Ahmed Kamal Al-Fakhouri says he is now trapped, unable to afford life in the country or the high costs of leaving it. 'They've imposed fines on us that are beyond reason - nearly $1,500 per person,' said Fakhouri, a restaurant worker in Tripoli, echoing a growing outcry among Syrians in Libya burdened by mounting penalties and legal uncertainties. 'Sometimes, I can't even afford a day's meal.' Fakhouri fled Derna after the deadly floods of August 2023 and resettled in Tripoli. 'I saw death with my own eyes,' he told Asharq Al-Awsat, describing the trauma of losing his home. 'Now we're living in misery. We want the world to hear our voice - we want to go back to our country.' Libya hosts thousands of Syrians, including doctors, engineers, university students, and day laborers who fill the country's markets in search of work to support their families. Yet many say they now find themselves stuck, facing visa penalties they can't afford and no clear path home - even as the fall of Assad's regime renews hopes for return. 'Exit Tax' Burdens Families While Libya's labor ministries have issued no formal statement on the matter, members of the Syrian community say they are being charged an "exit tax" calculated based on their overstay period. No official decree has been published, but testimonies suggest the fees are acting as a de facto barrier to departure. Following Assad's ouster, many Syrians are reconsidering return, describing exile as a 'prison,' but are deterred by the financial burden of settling overstays. Asharq Al-Awsat reached out to both of Libya's rival labor ministries to clarify policies affecting Syrians and the reported fines for expired documents, but received no response. Zekeriya Saadi, another Syrian living in Tripoli, has publicly called on authorities in both eastern and western Libya to cancel the exit tax and allow those wishing to return to Syria to do so. 'In these unbearable conditions, it's unreasonable to ask refugees to pay such high fees just to leave the country,' he said. 'This tax is a major obstacle, it exceeds our capacity, especially given our financial hardships.' Saadi said most Syrians in Libya are low-income families without stable jobs. 'Many are at risk of eviction, kidnapping, or exploitation. Leaving has become a matter of survival,' he said. 'How can a displaced person be treated like a tourist or a wealthy expat?' He urged Syria's Foreign Ministry to take a clear stance and negotiate with Libyan authorities for fee exemptions and coordinated return efforts, while also working to protect Syrians who remain in the country. Passport Problems Bar Education Beyond financial barriers, expired passports are also stranding Syrians in legal limbo. Many have lost access to services, and the issue is now affecting the next generation. According to Syrian media reports, education officials in Misrata barred at least 100 Syrian children from enrolling in public schools because their parents' passports had expired, highlighting how bureaucratic obstacles are deepening the crisis for displaced families.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Greece seeks cooperation with Libya to stop migration, PM says
Greece said it would deploy two frigates and one more vessel off Libya's territorial waters to deter migrants from reaching its southern islands Mitsotakis said authorities in Libya should cooperate with Greece to stop migrantsBRUSSELS: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday that Libya should cooperate with Greece and Europe to help halt a surge in migration flows from the north African arrivals of migrants in Europe from the north of Africa, including war-torn Sudan, and the Middle East have spiked in recent said on Monday it would deploy two frigates and one more vessel off Libya's territorial waters to deter migrants from reaching its southern islands of Crete and Gavdos.'I will inform my colleagues about the significant increase in the number of people from eastern Libya and ask for the support of the European Commission so that the issue can be addressed immediately,' Mitsotakis said ahead of an European Union summit in Brussels that began on said authorities in Libya should cooperate with Greece to stop migrants sailing from there or turn them back before they exit Libyan territorial added that the EU's migration commissioner and ministers from Italy, Greece and Malta would travel to Libya early in July to discuss the and order has been weak in Libya since a 2011 uprising that toppled dictator Muammar Qaddafi, with the country divided by factional conflict into eastern and western sections for over a decade.
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Greek PM: Greece Wants to Cooperate with Libya to Stop Migration
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday that Greece is looking to cooperate with Libya to halt migration flows. "I will inform my colleagues over the significant increase in the number of people from eastern Libya and ask for the support of the European Commission so that the issue can be addressed immediately," he said ahead of an EU summit in Brussels. He added that Libyan authorities should cooperate with Europe to stop migrants sailing from Libya.
