Italy adopts law to curb migrants

Italy's parliament gave final approval to a law criminalising illegal immigration and allowing citizens' patrols to help the police keep order, July 2009.

The European Commission announced it would examine the new measures to determine whether they comply with EU norms, warning that automatic expulsion rules in the legislation are not acceptable.

The legislation drew of centre-left politicians, human rights groups and the Catholic Church. The Vatican criticised the law for 'focusing on crime and leaving integration completely out of the picture'.

• Primary Source

Amnesty International: Press Release, 3.7.09: Italy: Napolitano should reject the “security package” http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/italy-napolitano-should-reject-%E2%80%9Csecurity-package%E2%80%9D-20090703

EUObserver, 14.5.09: Italy approves harsh anti-immigration bill http://euobserver.com/9/28124

Deutsche Welle, 3.7.09: European Commission to look into Italy's new immigration bill http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4451726,00.html

EurActiv, 4.6.09: Italy alone in making immigration an EU vote issue http://www.euractiv.com/eu-elections/italy-making-immigration-eu-vote-news-222066

UNHCR: Briefing Notes, 14.7.09: UNHCR interviews asylum seekers pushed back to Libya http://www.unhcr.org/4a5c638b6.html

Council of Europe: Press Release, No.316, 2009: “Italy should eradicate discrimination and xenophobia and improve its migration policy” says Commissioner Hammarberg https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1431575&Site=DC

BBC News, 27.7.09: Italy's immigrants despair at new laws http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8170187.stm

Everyone Group, 16.7.09: Public Security Law 773B denounced as racial law http://www.everyonegroup.com/EveryOne/MainPage/Entries/2009/7/16_Public_Security_Law_773B_denounced_as_racial_law.html

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