Libyan authorities detained about 1,500 undocumented migrant workers during a raid on a neighborhood east of Tripoli on Saturday. The sweep uncovered makeshift housing where migrants of various nationalities lived without residency permits, official passports, or health records.
Libyan labour minister Ali al-Abed, present during the raid, described the site as unsafe, failing to meet basic accommodation and safety standards. The area, enclosed by high walls and a large gate, sheltered mostly Egyptians and sub-Saharan Africans in cramped conditions.
Inside the compound, an AFP reporter observed a small grocery, butcher shop, and vegetable stalls, highlighting a fragile community amid hardship. Libya remains fractured since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi, split between rival governments in Tripoli and the eastern region.
With Italy just 300 kilometers away, Libya has become a dangerous gateway for migrants risking perilous sea journeys toward Europe. The detained migrants will be transferred to centers managed by the Anti-Illegal Immigration Authority for legal proceedings under national law.
It remains unclear whether these migrants will face immediate deportation or prolonged detention within Libya’s harsh system. Earlier this month, EU officials from Greece, Italy, and Malta met in Libya to address irregular migration flows from the region.
Migrants intercepted by Libyan forces, even in international waters, are often forcibly returned and held in conditions widely condemned by the United Nations. This raid highlights the ongoing human struggle within Libya’s borders, where hope clashes with harsh realities on the path to Europe.