The immigration authorities in Ethiopia have denied reports that Eritrean refugees were being deported and obliged to disburse exaggerated payments in the host country.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service (EICS) said Eritrean refugees have continued entering into Ethiopia through illegal means while many of them have stayed in the country more than they were supposed to.
EICS said the government has been issuing temporary visas that last for 90 days but many of the refugees have been staying in the country for more than a year.
The Ethiopian Refugees and Returnees Affairs recently announced that close to 80,000 Eritrean refugees live in urban centers of the country with the majority of them having no living and work permits.
EICS said it found out that several refugees and asylum seekers including that of Eritreans are engaged in smuggling of minerals, contraband trade, money laundering, drugs and preparing counterfeit documents and other trans-boundary crimes that could potentially hurt the national security and benefits of the host country.
EICS in particular accused the Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers of illegal human trafficking, and issuing illegal and counterfeit travel documents. “Those refugees who are allegedly involved in such kinds of crimes will be brought before court,” the statement said, noting that no Eritrean refugee has been deported or asked to pay out any money in Ethiopia.
Recently, Eritrean residents in the Ethiopian capital have reported being targeted in widespread arrests among their community, sparking fear among asylum seekers who fled their homes in search of a better life.
MG/as/APA