Police ordered to arrest 300 infiltrators each day
Following orders from prime minister, Immigration Administration launches operation that would see 300 infiltrators to Israel arrested each day. Court system, Prison Service also prepare for operation
The Immigration Administration has launched a special operation during which 300 people who have infiltrated Israel through the Egyptian border will be arrested each day.
A document distributed by the police's Branch of Operations and obtained by Ynet reveled that each infiltrator arrested would be handed over to the Population Authority, which will determine whether to release or deport him.
As part of this operation, the court system is preparing to increase its capacity and the Israel Prison Service has also designated extra lockup facilities for this purpose.
According to the document, in the course of the operation officers will approach every individual suspected of being an illegal resident, and detain him if he is found to be missing proper identification documents. The detainee will then be transferred for a court hearing where it will be decided whether he should be deported to his home country.
'Many infiltrators are not refugees'
The order to step-up the enforcement efforts originated from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Office.
A spokeswoman for the Israel Police, Superintendent Orit Friedman, told Ynet that following the sharp increase in the number of infiltrators to Israel in 2008, the Immigration Administration has been forced to increase its operations.
"Not everyone who enters Israel is a refugee," she explained. "Many infiltrate Israel and stay here illegally. In the first two months of 2008 alone some 2,500 people infiltrated the country."
Friedman added that in case the court is persuaded that sending an infiltrator back to his home country may put his life at risk, it would enable the individual to file for refugee status.
