Israel has begun notifying thousands of African nationals who entered the country illegally that they have three months to leave or face incarceration.
At a special meeting on Wednesday, the government approved the plan of action presented by Interior Minister Aryeh Deri and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan.
The government is planning to request an increase in staff at the Population and Immigration Authority for the purpose of carrying out the task.
The authority this week called on migrants from Sudan and Eritrea to leave "for their country or to a third country," meaning Rwanda or Uganda.
"We are shutting down the Holot detention center [in southern Israel] to send illegal migrants a clear message: The State of Israel is determined to give the residents of south Tel Aviv their normal lives back and remove the tens of thousands of illegal migrants who have settled across the country," Erdan said.
Those who leave by the end of March will be given a grant of $3,500 each, along with airfare and other incentives. The government has asked for a budget of NIS 150 million to fund the initiative.
Before making their decision, ministers were informed that there are currently 42,000 illegal migrants in Israel and that "the increase in the number of illegal migrants and their primary areas of residence in cities, particularly Tel Aviv, has led to various negative consequences, including the impairment of personal security for citizens of the country, a rise in crime and a significant detriment to the labor market."
The Hotline for Migrant Workers, an advocacy group, condemned the move Tuesday, saying expulsions "put the refugees' lives in danger."
Thousands of African migrants entered Israel illegally before it put up a fence along its border with Egypt.
Many say they fled conflict and persecution and are seeking refugee status. Israel says they are mostly economic migrants.
