Frazzled tempers lead to immigration office fracas

Scuffles broke out outside the Immigration Office in Valletta yesterday after some migrants waiting for an e-residence permit decided to jump the long queue. Police had to be called to control the crowd that made a dash for it when the office doors opened. “Some had slept outside in the cold overnight to be the first in. However, when the doors opened, some of them surged,” a policeman said. Police officers were seen holding back and encouraging those in the line to move back. “You are going to hurt yourself. You are going to hurt each other,” one officer said. Arguments broke out and at least three men had to be restrained. By 8am, the building in Castille Place was already full of people lining the stairs to the second floor. Outside, a few hundred more people braved the cold wind and rain, hoping to be called inside for their permits. The queue snaked down round the corner into St Ursula Street. At 9am, after tempers had reached boiling point for the umpteenth time, department officials advised the police that they could send everyone waiting outside home because there were more than 60 people already inside. The department usually processes 60 electronic residence permits each...