Corsica/France - illegal immigration

Boatload of illegal immigrants to be transferred to mainland France

Article published on the 2010-01-23 Latest update 2010-01-23 10:41 TU

Paragnano in Corsica
(Photo: Jaume Meneses

Illegal migrants who arrived in Corsica by boat were being transferred to an immigration centre on Saturday, according to authorities. Traffickers landed 124 illegal migrants at Paragnano beach, near Bonifacio, a southern town of the Mediterranean island on Thursday, before they were discovered Friday. 38 children and five pregnant women were among the passengers.

According to officials most of them were in good health, after doctors and aid staff made assessments at a local gymnasium.

In a statement French Immigration Minister Eric Besson said that some of the migrants were identified as Kurds from Syria. “Their situation will be evaluated individually,” he said.