Illegal immigration from Africa to Israel

Jerusalem (CNN) - Israel has agreed to cancel plans to deport thousands of migrants to third countries after striking a deal with the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is facing an increase in the numbers of migrants crossing the Balkan state on their way to the West.

Officials say the situation is under control for now, but fear it might become an issue if the current upward trend continues.

Israel reported that a program has been in force since today that will force nearly 40,000 illegal immigrants to choose between expulsion and imprisonment, according to the France press, quoted by BTA.

Not a single infiltration from the Sinai Peninsula into Israel was recorded over the past 12 months, the Population and Immigration Authority said on Sunday.

Officials credit this surprising statistic to the fence Israel built along its border with Egypt several years ago.

Over the last 24 hours, a special operation aimed at limiting illegal immigration took place in Sofia. Police have arrested 116 foreigners in various parts of the capital. The illegal immigrants have no IDs and have been detained by the police in order to identify them and their origin. Afterwards, the detainees will be turned over to the competent authorities.

In the backstreets of a run-down Tel Aviv neighbourhood, three Sudanese immigrants blast hip hop from mobile phones and rap about the broken promises of life in the Promised Land.

The youngsters travel regularly from southern Israel to meet in its commercial capital, home to tens of thousands of illegal African migrants, and to pursue their dream of becoming rap superstars.

Police have detained 78 illegal immigrants in an operation at a hostel in downtown Sofia.

The illegal immigrants, Iraqi and Afghanistan nationals, were detained in a joint operation of the Sofia Directorate of the Ministry of Interior and Border Police, according to reports of the Bulgarian National Television.

Some 10 illegal immigrants were sharing one room.