Hundreds of Egyptian nationals, residing illegally in Libya, gathered outside the Tripoli-based Directorate of Combatting Illegal Migration (DCIM) on Monday. They queued up to receive a pass allowing them to leave Libya, as the DCIM, affiliated with the western government's interior ministry, took charge of deportations following an agreement between Libya's two administrations. The deputy for security affairs at the DCIM explained that approximately 600 illegal Egyptian migrants were being deported due to their unauthorized entry into Libyan territory. Mostly men, these migrants embarked on a 1,375-km-long journey to the Egyptian crossing facility of Esmaed on buses. Over the years, many Egyptians have lived in Libya, working in sectors like agriculture and construction, while some use Libya as a transit point in their attempts to reach Europe. Libya has also become a major hub for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, with over 700,000 migrants present on Libyan territory between May and June, according to the UN International Organisation for Migration.