Italy’s right-wing government on Monday approved a package of tough measures to curb illegal migration across the Mediterranean, following an influx of thousands of migrants last week.
As a result, the immigration centers are overloaded. The cabinet of the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has decided to increase the maximum period of detention from six months to 18 months.
The extended period is necessary to prove whether a person has the right to stay in Italy, or to be immediately deported from the detention centers. In addition, the Ministry of Defense will create “structures” to stop migrants who have entered Italy illegally. Some sources have said that all the participants in the meeting were of the same opinion for tightening the rules for migrants.
In recent days, thousands of migrants have crossed over to the Italian island of Lampedusa, after a long journey by boat from Africa.
On Tuesday of last week alone, more than 5,000 people reached the island between Sicily and North Africa – a record within 24 hours.
Meloni has said that a tougher approach is necessary. At the same time, it has declared war on gangs of smugglers.
“The fight against mass migration and traffickers is a fight for Italy and for Europe.” The fight against illegal migration has been one of Melon’s main promises in the pre-election campaign. She has been at the head of Italian politics for 11 months./REL/
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