afrol News, 17 January Libyan has began the deportation of close to two million illegal migrants that used the North African country to sail through Europe in search of greener pastures.

The deportation started with the authorities' immediate gathering of all foreigners illegally residing in Libya without exception.

Libyan authorities said illegal immigrants have not only become a burden on their country's economy, but they also pose threats to security, as most of the migrants remain unemployed.

The migrants' only wish is to get to Europe through thick and thin. And in many cases, it turns to be a journey of no return for most of them, for they perish at sea.

The government had instructed housing officials to demolish everything that illegal migrants use as hideouts during police raid in the suburbs of the capital Tripoli and other cities.

Libya's action would be welcome by the European Union member states, particularly Italy and Malta, that had persistently done all that they could to halt the high influx of illegal migrants to their countries.

Human rights organisations said the deportation violates both national and international laws, fearing that the deportees might be prosecuted upon return to their countries.

By staff writer

© afrol News