Swiss police deport 62 Sudanese back to Italy

Jan 17, 2006 (BELLINZONA, Switzerland) — Swiss frontier police have deported 62 Sudanese who illegally crossed the border from Italy last week, local authorities said Tuesday.

The group – all men – were deported back to Italy in handcuffs in case any of them resisted, Ticino cantonal (state) police said in a statement. One of the Sudanese suffered minor injuries.

They were taken into custody on the Italian side of the border and taken to Milan, police said. The deportation was only possible after Milan authorities guaranteed the Sudanese would be placed unacceptable accommodation.

The illegal immigrants had received residence permits in Italy on humanitarian grounds just before their journey to Switzerland. They refused to return to Italy, insisting that a better standard of accommodation be provided in Milan.

The Sudanese told Swiss authorities they were trying to travel to Geneva, where they would complain to the United Nations about their living conditions in Italy.

(AP/ST)