Notizie.it editorial team The Ministry of the Interior has finally managed to complete the accelerated repatriation of the first two irregular migrants, despite the rejection of the idea of the Catania judges last year, to detain some Tunisian migrants at the center in Pozzallo, Ragusa. This is an encouragement for the Government, which, with a delay of 4 months compared to the initial forecasts, plans to inaugurate two centers for migrants in Albania, one for primary reception in Shengjin and another in Gjader, specifically intended for migrants subjected to accelerated repatriation procedures. The first arrivals are expected to take place by the end of the month, according to reports.
The Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, recently proudly reported the first two repatriations of Tunisians who were residing in the Porto Empedocle detention center in Agrigento. This was possible thanks to the accelerated procedure introduced last year, which serves as a powerful tool to combat illegal immigration, included in the new EU Pact for Migration and Asylum, also thanks to the efforts of Italy. The procedure allows for the expedited examination of applications for international protection for aspiring refugees from countries considered safe. It also allows migrants to be detained in a specific center for up to 28 days, after which the individual is either repatriated or released. The validation of the detention must be carried out by a judge, even if this option was not initially granted. The Ministry of the Interior had announced that it would appeal these decisions to the Supreme Court, but later decided not to proceed, opting instead to modify the law that required a controversial security deposit of 5000 euros for foreigners seeking asylum, a point that was highly contested in the rulings.
In August, a specific facility was set up in Porto Empedocle to hold a certain category of migrants – mainly non-vulnerable Tunisian men – destined for accelerated border procedures. The first occupants, all Tunisians, arrived at the end of the month. Confirmation of the detention was announced by the judges of the immigration section of the Palermo court, who in some cases did not give their consent, but in other cases they did. On August 31, the green light was given by the magistrates of Palermo for the detention of five Tunisians. For two of them – the first ever – the procedure ended with the denial of asylum and the announcement of their return to their homeland made today by Piantedosi.
The government aims to replicate this model in Albania, trusting in the powerful deterrent effect for potential migrants of a process that begins with rescue at sea and ends with the return home from Albania within 28 days without entering Italian territory, in case of refusal of asylum.
Work on the centers – with the intervention of the Italian military engineers – is now nearing completion. The infrastructure in the port of Schengjin is ready. Delays have been concentrated on the other site, the former Albanian air force base of Gjader about 20 km away, where three different institutions are being set up: a center to detain asylum seekers (880 places available), a CPR (144 places) and a prison (20 places).
This complex facility took longer than expected to be set up but will be fully operational by the end of the month.
