MANAGUA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Santos on Thursday slammed the latest immigration law of the European Union (EU), saying it is "a mistake that implies a wrong answer to the world."

    Santos' remarks followed the Nicaraguan legislature's condemnation on Wednesday of the EU's recently approved immigration law known as "Return Directive".

    The policy is a serious violation of human rights, a parliament statement said.

    South America welcomed with "generosity and solidarity" millions of Europeans migrants in previous centuries, who had abandoned their countries due to political, economical and social reasons, the statement pointed out.

    "Personally I consider it (the new immigration law) has been Europe's mistake, I'm sure that they will correct it, in its moment," said Santos.

    The new immigration policy affects not only millions of Central and Latin Americans but is in fact a wrong answer to the world, he added.

    The Return Directive was approved by the European Parliament on June 18, after being endorsed by interior ministers of the EU's 27member countries in Luxembourg earlier in the month.

    Under the tough new immigration rules, illegal immigrants will face up to 18 months' detention before deportation and will be banned from re-entry to EU countries for up to five years.

    The law, which could come into force in 2010, has drawn widespread and strong criticism from Latin America.