Morocco: First Batch of Stay Documents Issued to Undocumented Immigrants

PERSISMA, Rabat – A first batch of stay documents was delivered this Friday to a group of undocumented immigrants who benefited from the exceptional operation started in Morocco on January 1st.

“We are proud of this initiative that made the dream of thousands of persons come true”, said minister in charge of the of Moroccan community abroad and of migration affairs Anis Birou, stressing that the operation, conducted in accordance with the will of the King reflects the humane dimension of Morocco’s immigration policy.

Morocco is conducting from January 1st to December 31, 2014 an exceptional operation to issue legal stay documents to undocumented immigrants who meet a number of criteria.

King Mohammed VI had called the government last September to adopt a comprehensive policy on immigration saying the often controversial issue “should be addressed in a comprehensive and humanist manner,” according to international law and multilateral cooperation.

The minister pointed out that several other cultural, education, health and judiciary assistance measures will also be taken to ensure successful integration of immigrants in the Moroccan society.

Delegate-minister for the interior, Charki Draiss, general manager of the Moroccan police department,Bouchaib Rmail, inter-ministerial delegate for human rights, Mahjoub El Hiba, and several other civil and military figures, including secretary general of the democratic organization of immigrant workers in Morocco, Marcel Amiyeto, were present during the ceremony.