Italian authorities have decided to send home 60 Egyptians who entered the country's coasts illegally, Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday.
The Egyptians arrested were among 128 illegal migrants who arrived to Italy on Monday. The boat carrying them was apprehended in Catania, Sicily, said Mohamed Abdel Hakam, assistant foreign minister.
He said investigations by Italian authorities revealed that the boat set sail from the village of Borg Megheizal in Egypt's Kafr al-Sheikh governorate. Investigators found the migrants came from the provinces of Sharqiya, Minya and Assiut, he said.
Abdel Hakam added that Italy decided to keep 68 minors in custody. Italian laws prohibit the deportation of illegal migrants who are minors and punish unlawful immigrants with fines, detention or deportation.
Egyptian youth desperate for jobs have boarded illegal migration boats bound for Italy in recent years. Many deaths typically occur during illegal migrations.
On 16 February, Italian authorities deported 94 undocumented Egyptian migrants who had been arrested off the coastal city of Ragusa.
