Illegal immigration flow: a big concern

Chief of the National Popular Army’s Preparation Department Cherif Zerad Tuesday said many nations are concerned about illegal immigration phenomenon. Keeping watch on the flow of illegal immigrants has become difficult.

“Fears of exploiting those immigrants by terrorists and criminals are on the rise. They present a danger on the region’s security and stability,” Zerad said in a conference about immigration and security.

He talked about the army’s role in saving illegal immigrants. “I would like to evoke the National Popular Army’s big role by keeping watch on national and coast borders. Many immigrants are saved. I also hail the Algerian State’s role to help the Sahel’s countries in terms of local development, security and stability.”

The national defence ministry said in a release that the conference was meant to enrich reflexion about immigration in the Mediterranean Sea. Causes, policies, human challenges and solutions were discussed.

A large number of presentations were made during the conference. Of them, illegal immigration security challenges in Algeria, regional security, legal mechanisms to fight illegal immigration represented the main axes.

Researchers specialized in international relations and sociology attended the conference. They shed light on intercontinental illegal immigration phenomenon and analysed its dimensions and repercussions in the Mediterranean Sea. They also focused on its causes and policies to face it. Different human challenges were raised to find solutions.

The ministry said the conference was an opportunity to analyse and discuss the reality and dimensions of illegal immigration phenomenon. “There is a need for strategies to face it,” said the release.