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Italy: Raft of restrictive amendments under discussion, as new norms on asylum and family reunion come into force

28 March 2012

ASGI, the Associazione Studi Giuridici sull'Immigrazione, has presented a number of documents that it has produced or adhered to, highlighting the problems that would result from amendments that have been submitted to the law decree on security (Ddl 773) that is undergoing scrutiny in the Senate since 11 November 2008, if they were to be approved, and on the latest reform of the education system.

These include an open letter concerning the situation of unaccompanied minors, with regards to decisions to repatriate them if they are EU country nationals and restrictions that would be imposed on them to obtain residence permits; a statement on the possible implications of denying 'irregular' migrants urgent or emergency health care free of charge; and an appeal that criticises attempts to create separate "integration classes" for foreigners in the school system as part of the reform of the education system. Other measures in the text under scrutiny include citizens' patrols to complement police activity in agreement with local authorities, a residence permit based on a points system (similar to that used for driving licenses) that would certify migrants' status as people who are permanently on probation, with a loss of points resulting in the permit being revoked and subsequent expulsion, fines for illegal residence that are so high (between €5,000 and €10,000) that it would be impossible for many to pay them, and a register of homeless people. Meanwhile, stricter new measures have come into force with regards to both asylum proceedings and family reunion (legislative decrees 159/2008 and 160/2008, both of which came into force on 5 November 2008).

Law decree on security (Ddl Senato 733) - "Disposizioni in materia di sicurezza pubblica", 11.11.2008, available at: http://www.cittadinolex.kataweb.it/article_view.jsp?idArt=86220&idCat=54

Observations on amendments concerning foreign unaccompanied minors
- Italian, original
- English

Observations on amendments affecting medical care for foreigners in an irregular situation
- Italian, original
- English

Appeal against "integration classes" separating foreign from Italian pupils
- Italian, original
- English

Associazione Studi Giuridici sull'Immigrazione website: http://www.asgi.it

Legislative decree on asylum (Dlgs 159/2008) - "DECRETO LEGISLATIVO 3 ottobre 2008, n. 159 Modifiche ed integrazioni al decreto legislativo 28 gennaio 2008, n. 25, recante attuazione della direttiva 2005/85/CE relativa alle norme minime per le procedure applicate negli Stati membri ai fini del riconoscimento e della revoca dello status di rifugiato", available at: http://www.cittadinolex.kataweb.it/article_view.jsp?idArt=85998&idCat=26

Legislative decree on family reunion (Dlgs 160/2008) - "DECRETO LEGISLATIVO 3 ottobre 2008, n. 160 Modifiche ed integrazioni al decreto legislativo 8 gennaio 2007, n. 5, recante attuazione della direttiva 2003/86/CE relativa al diritto di ricongiungimento familiare", available at: http://www.cittadinolex.kataweb.it/article_view.jsp?idArt=86044&idCat=26

See previous coverage: "Institutionalising discrimination", Statewatch bulletin vol. 18 no. 2, April-June 2008.