International Roundup

Mexico Attorney General Rafeal Macedo de la Concha told the Associated Press this week that foreign fugitives are being captured and deported at an "unprecedented rate." According to Government figures, 200 foreigners were arrested for deportation last year, up from 160 the year before, but already this year 117 have been captured. Deputy Attorney General Alejandro Ramos said more than 90 percent of the fugitives would be returned to the United States.

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The Netherlands has opened its first deportation centers, where illegal immigrants and rejected asylum seekers will be detained pending their removal. The two centers will hold up to 600 detainees, but none have been assigned to them yet. Immigration Service spokesmen said the detainees would not be able to leave the complex, but the facilities will not be like a prison. Detainees will have access to outdoor recreation, telephones, visitors and legal advisors.

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EU Government leaders have announced plans to equip passports from all member states with biometric data, under pressure from the United States. Leaders included the plan in its final declaration following a recent summit in Porto Carras. Spokesmen said the US threatened to require mandatory visas from EU citizens if Europe does not adopt the new data collection policy.

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An official of Taiwan's Council of Labor Affairs said foreign laborers should be allowed to work on major industrial projects in order to speed the country's economic development and rejuvenate the domestic labor market. The CLA said the relaxed restrictions on foreign workers would be coupled with plans to protect domestic laborers, introducing a plan to issue one work permit for every two domestic workers on the payroll.