Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hundreds Missing in Shipwreck off Libya

Illegal workers were heading to Italy

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 31, 2009 3:50 AM CDT

(Newser) – Hundreds of people are missing and feared dead after at least one boat packed with illegal immigrants sank off the coast of Libya, the BBC reports. Libyan officials say they managed to rescue 23 people after a vessel carrying 250 Europe-bound migrants sank. Another boat carrying 342 passengers is still missing. Many of the migrants are believed to be from Egypt.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

A boat loaded with illegal immigrants motors off Lampedusa, Italy, in this file photo. Libyan authorities say two boats packed with Europe-bound migrants have sunk and hundreds of people are missing. (Getty Images)

An Italian police boat approaches a boat loaded with illegal Immigrants near Lampedusa in this file photo. Tens of thousands of immigrants in ramshackle boats land on the Italian coast each year (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

We have information that two more boats were drifting off Libya's coast but we do not know the exact conditions and the number of the migrants on board. - Libyan official

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Man Pretends To Be Illegal Immigrant to Skirt Jail

He was deported to Mexico instead

(NEWSER) - It’s not every day an American citizen gets charged with pretending to be an illegal immigrant, but that’s what happened to one Utah 27-year-old this week. The man was originally arrested for dealing drugs in February 2010, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. He told the judge he was an illegal immigrant from Mexico named Saul Quiroz. Instead of prison, the court sent him to ICE to be deported. More»

Alabama Now Has US' Harshest Immigration Law

Portions of it go into effect today after judge's ruling

(NEWSER) - Starting today, Alabama police will enforce what many are calling the US’ toughest immigration law. A federal judge upheld key aspects of the law yesterday, including allowing authorities to question and detain suspected illegal immigrants and requiring officials to check public school students’ immigration status. The governor says those portions of the law, which was passed earlier this year , will be enforced immediately. Despite the fact that other parts of the law are still on hold, it is already stricter than similar laws in Arizona, Utah, Indiana, and Georgia. More»

New Mexico Man Who Saved Girl Is Illegal Immigrant

Antonia Diaz Chacon becomes new face in debate

(NEWSER) - A new twist to the story of a New Mexico man hailed as a hero for saving a 6-year-old girl from a kidnapper: Antonio Diaz Chacon is an illegal immigrant. The 23-year-old has been married to an American and living in the US for four years, but he gave up on trying to gain legal residency because it was such a long, expensive process, reports AP . Now that his illegal status has come to light, he is being thrust into the debate. More»

Libyan Interior Minister Appears to Have Defected

Nassr al-Mabrouk Abdullah arrives in Egypt with family

(AP) - Libya's interior minister and nine of his family members flew into Cairo today on their private plane in what appeared to be the highest level defection from Moammar Gadhafi's regime in months. Egyptian airport officials said Nassr al-Mabrouk Abdullah entered on a tourist visa. No Libyan embassy officials greeted him at the airport and one embassy official said they were not aware of his plans to visit Egypt. The minister flew in from Tunisia, which borders Libya. More»

Calif. Passes Dream Act for Undocumented Students

Illegals to qualify for privately-funded college scholarships

(NEWSER) - Illegal immigrants will be eligible for privately-funded college scholarships in California under a bill signed into law yesterday by Gov. Jerry Brown. The bill, known as the California Dream Act, is aimed at undocumented students who have received a high school diploma after attending at least three years of high school in the state, Reuters reports. Illegal immigrants already qualify for in-state tuition fees, a policy which was upheld by the US Supreme Court last month. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Hundreds Missing in Shipwreck off Libya