Italy’s Immigration Reform: A Comprehensive Look at the New Policies

Italy’s Immigration Reform: A Comprehensive Look at the New Policies

Extending Detention Period for Illegal Immigrants

The Italian Government, helmed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has recently implemented a set of stringent measures geared towards addressing the issue of illegal immigration. Notably, the government has extended the maximum detention period for illegal immigrants who are eligible for deportation to their home countries. This period has been extended to 18 months, during which identification procedures and approvals for deportation will be conducted.

Establishing Regional Centers for Illegal Immigrants

As part of these new measures, the government has laid out plans to establish centers in each region to accommodate these immigrants during the detention period. This initiative is an improvement on the previous system that often resulted in the premature release of illegal immigrants due to procedural delays. In line with this, agreements have been inked for the deportation of illegal immigrants with countries including the Ivory Coast and Tunisia, and the government is currently in pursuit of similar agreements with Burkina Faso, Mali, Cameroon, and Guinea.

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Combatting Age Falsification

The Italian authorities are also tackling the issue of age falsification by immigrants, a factor that has been complicating the deportation process. Under the new measures, individuals suspected of falsifying their age will be subjected to medical and radiological examinations. Prime Minister Meloni has underscored that the new decree sends a clear message to immigrants that illegal entry will not result in asylum rights and will instead lead to deportation.

Expansion of Deportation Centers

Given the lack of sufficient space in existing deportation centers, the government is planning to build new ones. These facilities will be strategically located in low population density areas to facilitate supervision. The centers will be housed in Italian army buildings, though the police and carabinieri will be responsible for oversight. The first of these centers has already been established in Sicily, and more are expected to be set up in the weeks to come. The number of existing centers across the various regions of Italy, currently able to accommodate between 50 to 200 immigrants, is projected to double.

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Results of the New Measures

The implementation of these measures and the simplification of procedures have led to a significant increase in the number of deported illegal immigrants from Italy in 2023 compared to the previous year. Prime Minister Meloni has expressed satisfaction with the government’s approach to the immigration crisis and its efforts in finding effective solutions to this challenge.