Would-be immigrants stand near an Armed Forces of Malta guard (2nd R) at the Safi barracks detention centre for immigrants, which currently holds around 600 detainees in Safi, outside Valletta, July 19, 2013. Would-be immigrants who land in Malta face mandatory detention which can last for 18 months but figures show nearly half are allowed out sooner, following the granting of refugee status or humanitarian protection, according to official sources. Malta will be given concrete assistance by the European Commission to return failed asylum seekers to their country of origin, the government has announced.
REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi (MALTA - Tags: SOCIETY IMMIGRATION POLITICS MILITARY)