The revised departure policy runs until December 31 and offers financial aid to African nationals who have resided in Israel for over two years without valid visas or on temporary permits. Authorities project thousands of citizens from nations such as Nigeria, South Africa, and Togo will now qualify. The push follows departure slumps tied to restricted foreign asylum programs, closed American borders, and war-induced flight disruptions. Meanwhile, thousands of other African residents face precarious legal standing, including roughly 8,000 Ethiopians left vulnerable to deportation after losing group protections.
Key points
African nationals who overstayed legal entry visas are now eligible for the departure ass…: African nationals who overstayed legal entry visas are now eligible for the departure assistance funds for the first time.
Around 13,000 Eritreans and 6,700 Sudanese currently reside in the country under group pr…: Around 13,000 Eritreans and 6,700 Sudanese currently reside in the country under group protection from deportation.
International border closures, lower Canadian asylum quotas, and war-related airspace dis…: International border closures, lower Canadian asylum quotas, and war-related airspace disruptions contributed to the recent decrease in migrant departures.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Israel is extending its $3,500 voluntary departure grant to nationals of every African country in a bid to reverse a decline in the number of migrants leaving with state assistance, according to Haaretz.
Until now the payment had been limited mainly to people from a handful of states.
The change took effect on Monday and will remain in place until the end of the year, Israel's Population and Immigration Authority said, Haaretz reported. Applications must be submitted by 31 December.
It covers African nationals who have stayed in Israel for more than two years without a valid visa, and those holding temporary residency permits.
For the first time, it also includes people who entered Israel legally but overstayed their visas.
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The authority expects several thousand more people to be eligible, including citizens of Nigeria, South Africa and Togo.
Before the change, the grant was mostly open to people who crossed into Israel outside official border points. That…
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