Italy passes anti-immigration legislation despite Church objections

July 03, 2009

Despite objections from Church officials, the Italian government has passed anti-immigration legislation. ANSA reports that

people caught entering or living in Italy without a permit will not be arrested but they will given immediate expulsion orders and face fines ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 euros. The law also says that Italians - unless they are doctors or school heads who will be exempted - will be obliged to report illegal immigrants. The bill triples the period of time that foreigners can be held in detention centres from two to six months in order to allow sufficient time to process their deportation, should they not be granted asylum. Other aspects of the law include tough fines for landlords who rent to illegal immigrants, no public services for babies born in Italy to parents without legal status and a longer waiting period for foreigners seeking citizenship through marriage. The law also authorises 'citizen patrols'. The government has stressed that the patrols will only be tasked with reporting crime but the opposition claims the government is contracting out policing to private individuals.

 

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Further information:

• Crackdown on illegal immigration (ANSA)