New Italian law makes it easier to kick out migrants

Italy’s government yesterday passed a tough security bill that will make it easier to expel migrants and strip them of citizenship.

The new rules are “a step forward to make Italy safer”, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Facebook.

Mr Salvini said it would help Italy to “be stronger in the fight against the mafia and people smugglers”.

Ministers yesterday approved the legislation, which will set tougher rules for a form of state protection, according a status less than full asylum.

Mr Salvini said asylum requests of those deemed “socially dangerous” or convicted of a crime would be suspended, even before their court appeals ran out.

Humanitarian protection will be offered only to people exploited in the black-market economy or victims of domestic violence, natural disasters or human trafficking.

“We’re not harming any fundamental rights,” Mr Salvini said.

In another development, a Panamanian-flagged ship used to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean Sea had its registration removed.

Doctors without Borders and the SOS Mediterranee rescue group described the decision by the Panama Maritime Authority to de-flag the vessel as shameful.

The Panamanian authorities said at the weekend that they started procedures to strip registration from the Aquarius 2 after Italy said that the boat’s captain failed to follow orders.

When it next docks, the ship will lose its flag and will not be able to leave port until another maritime authority agrees to register it.

Italy placed “blatant and economic political pressure” on Panama to revoke the Aquarius 2’s registration, said the two charities, which run the ship.

Mr Salvini denied any involvement in the affair.

“No pressure at all on Panama for the Aquarius 2,” the minister said on Twitter. “I don’t even know what Panama’s country code is.”