Hundreds of Egyptian minors are being held in detention in Italy, according to the Egyptian government. There are 520 Egyptian minors among the illegal immigrants in temporary Italian reception centres and facing very difficult conditions” the government reportedly told Arab newspaper, al-Sharq al-Awsat. Italian law blocks the forced repatriation of illegal minors, as long as they want to stay in the country, in contrast to adults. A delegation of officials from Egypt is interviewing the minors one by one checking their identity, informing their families, and hoping to convince them to return home. However, according to the newspaper, since authorities have held the minorities for such a long time, they should be eligible for foster care and eventual adoption by Italian families.
