Italy to Take Tougher Stance on Migrants
The Italian government has agreed on stricter measures against migrants. This was announced, among others, by Vice Prime Minister and Lega leader Matteo Salvini via the Internet service X, formerly Twitter, after the measures were accepted by the Council of Ministers.
The cabinet under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni raised the maximum length of detention pending deportation from twelve to 18 months to have more time to check the right to remain and, if necessary, to be able to deport people directly from detention.
It also commissioned the military to set up special detention centres for deportation. The Ministry of Defense should create “structures” to detain migrants who have entered the country irregularly. These camps will be set up in sparsely populated areas of the country to avoid “further inconvenience and insecurity in Italian cities,” said Meloni.
However, these deportation centres are legally controversial, says journalist and author Roberto Brunelli: “According to statements from constitutional lawyers, such centres are on the edge of what is constitutionally permitted or violate it.”
“The fight against illegal mass immigration and human traffickers is an epoch-making battle for Italy and Europe,” Meloni continued. Before her election as Prime Minister, the leader of the right-wing national party Fratelli d’Italia promised tough action against migrants.
In order for the two measures to be implemented quickly, they should be integrated into a legislative decree that has already been passed but not yet officially published in the Official Journal.
Meloni also announced that she would soon summon all ambassadors from the countries from which most migrants come to Italy. The topic should be the repatriation of people without the right to remain, reported the ANSA news agency.
Difficulties in discussions with the responsible authorities in the countries of origin, which Italy and other EU countries often encounter, should also be discussed.
In the past few days, thousands of migrants landed on boats from Africa on the Italian island of Lampedusa. The initial reception centre on the small Mediterranean island between Tunisia and Malta was at times extremely overcrowded.
This year the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Italy has risen sharply. As of Monday, the number reached 129,869, according to the Italian Interior Ministry. In the same period last year, it was around half at 68,195
