Official: Illegal Palestinian migrants have special status in Algeria

The Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Algiers, Louai Issa, said the Algerian authorities grant Palestinians who illegally enter the country “private status” that sets them apart from other illegal immigrants.

Speaking to Donia El Watan news site, Issa explained that when illegal immigrants are arrested in Algeria, the Algerian security forces refer them to trial during which they are sentenced to three months’ imprisonment and deportation.

“However, when the immigrants are Palestinians, the Algerian authorities treat them according to two options: either put them on trial which ends with deportation from the country, or a suspended sentence of imprisonment and deportation,” he added.

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According to the Palestinian official, because of this “private status”, the Algerian competent authorities give Palestinians the opportunity to either voluntarily leave the country or get their documents together.

He pointed out that Algeria is an independent country and seeks to preserve its security from terrorism and therefore has the full right to take all decisions and procedures, adding that the Palestinian embassy and leadership do not intervene in the Algerian government’s work.

Algeria has detained a number of Palestinians who had entered the country illegally, specifically from the Gaza Strip.