Israel Matzav

Deadline for South Sudanese to leave voluntarily extended

Shavua tov, a good week to everyone.

Some 300 South Sudanese - out of 700-1,500 who are in Israel illegally - have agreed to leave voluntarily in exchange for free air tickets and 1,000 Euros. As a result, the government has extended the time that they have to leave, which had only a week left.

The Population, Immigration, and Borders Authority announced Friday that it was extending the one-week deadline for South Sudanese migrants to voluntarily leave Israel in exchange for 1,000 euros and a flight ticket home courtesy of the State of Israel.

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PIBA did not specify how long the deadline was being extended.

"Operation Going Back Home" was put into effect after the Jerusalem District Court ruled last week that the South Sudanese would not be in physical danger if they were returned to their country.

Some 300 South Sudanese migrants have been arrested by immigration authorities since the operation began in addition to the 300 who have agreed to leave voluntarily.

Members of a South Sudanese delegation currently visiting Israel told The Jerusalem Post on Friday that Israeli government officials promised them that the migrants who have been arrested in the past week would be released until their deportation.

PIBA denied ever making such a promise.

The problem is that the South Sudanese are a drop in the bucket compared with the Sudanese and the Eritreans. It remains to be seen whether the government can deal with those groups.

Labels: illegal immigration, South Sudan

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:31 PM