Illegal immigrants get on a bus to be sent to their hometowns in Algiers, capital of Algeria, on June 28, 2018. Algerian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday excluded the option of establishing detention zones for illegal immigrants, amid criticism from NGOs that the North African nation mistreated African undocumented migrants. (Xinhua)
ALGIERS, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday excluded the option of establishing detention zones for illegal immigrants, amid criticism from NGOs that the North African nation mistreated African undocumented migrants.
"It is impossible for Algeria to open any detention zone ... we are proceeding with sending the illegal immigrants to their hometown ... in accordance with arrangements we have with neighboring countries," official APS news agency quoted Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel as saying.
Regarding the criticism of Algeria's mishandling the migration crisis, particularly in the south of the country, the foreign minister said that "such criticism is part of a compaign against Algeria."
He concluded that "we are very calm as long as we do it within the respect of our laws, the respect of the human dignity and concertation with illegal immigrants' origin countries and transit countries."
The country was severely criticized by some human rights NGOs after authorities sent home illegal immigrants originated from Sub-Saharan nations.
Last month, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, Ravina Shamdasani, called Algeria "to stop massive expulsions of migrants, especially from Sub-Saharan Africa, warning that this expulsion campaign would lead to a rise in racism and xenophobia."
