Italian Government Intensifies Repatriation of Criminal Migrants from Albania
In a controversial move, the Italian government, led by Premier Giorgia Meloni, is ramping up efforts to repatriate migrants who have committed crimes. During a recent Senate question time, Meloni criticized the actions of Italian courts that have ordered some of these migrants to be returned to Italy from newly established processing and repatriation centers (CPRs) in Albania.
Initially designed as detention facilities meant to deter migrant departures from Africa, these centers have been repurposed due to judicial rulings that highlighted safety concerns regarding the countries of origin of the migrants being sent back, namely Egypt and Bangladesh. The courts determined that these nations do not provide sufficient safety assurances for the migrants involved.
"We have decided to use the centers built in Albania as ordinary CPRs, and we have started to transfer irregular migrants awaiting repatriation," Meloni stated. However, she expressed frustration as courts have begun ordering the return of these migrants to Italy, allowing them to apply for international protection even when their requests appear to lack merit.
Meloni shared alarming statistics about the criminal backgrounds of many migrants moved to Albania, indicating that they have committed severe offenses such as theft, robbery, illegal possession of weapons, attempted murder, sexual violence, child pornography, solicitation of a minor, and other obscene acts.
Despite these concerns, Meloni insisted that there are factions in Italy advocating for the protection of such individuals, pushing back against efforts to repatriate them.
By the end of the current week, the government plans to have repatriated over 25 migrants from the Albanian centers, showcasing the effectiveness of their new approach despite judicial challenges viewed by Meloni as ideologically driven attempts to disrupt the repatriation process.
"We want an Italy that is finally capable of enforcing the rules, being uncompromising with those who commit crimes, and defending the safety of honest citizens," she concluded. As these developments unfold, they signal a significant shift in Italy's stance on immigration and crime, continuing to spark debate over human rights, national security, and the balance between the two.
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