Morocco opens alien office nationwide to process regularisation of undocumented immigrants

Morocco opened this Thursday alien offices nationwide to start processing requests of undocumented immigrants, in accordance with instructions of King Mohammed VI for a more humane migration and asylum policy. “This is an important day for undocumented immigrants who do not only come from Africa, but also from several other regions, mostly Asia, said Morocco’s interior minister Charki Draiss who dedicated the Rabat’s alien office with minister in charge of Moroccans living abroad and of migration affairs, Anis Birou. He added that the number of undocumented immigrants in Morocco has reached according to the interior ministry’s estimates around 25,000 to 300,000, noting that this exceptional regularization operation will help to know the exact number of foreigners living in Morocco without legal stay documents and will help improve their social-economic conditions. “It is a great day for immigrants and for Morocco”, said secretary general of the Democratic organization of immigrant workers in Morocco, Marcel Amiyeto, who noted that 250 undocumented immigrants are present in the office for the first day of this operation. The operation, to last till December 31, concerns foreigners married to Moroccan nationals, those who have been living in Morocco with another foreigner, legally settled in Morocco for at least 4 years, children of these two categories, foreigners who have work contracts of at least two years, foreigners who have been living in Morocco continuously for at least 5 years, and foreigners who suffer from serious diseases.