The National Statistics Office has reported that in 2009, 1,475 irregular immigrants arrived in Malta. New applications for asylum amounted to 2,387, down by 8.5 per cent when compared to the previous year.

During the year under review, 1,475 irregular immigrants reached Maltese shores on 17 boats. There was a decline of 79.8 per cent in arriving boats when compared to the landings in 2008, which resulted in a drop of 1,300 irregular immigrants.

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