A Moroccan migrant in Italy is facing deportation even after helping the police catch a thief. Zakaria Nagda, a 29-year-old man, has been living in Italy without a residence permit for the past eight months. His journey took him from Morocco through Spain and France before he entered Italy through the coastal town of Ventimiglia.
Zakaria had no official documents when he arrived and didn’t apply for a residency permit. Instead, he began searching for work and recently got a trial job at a local market. His story caught national attention after an early morning incident in Turin, where he helped police identify a thief — only to be rewarded with a repatriation notice.
The incident happened around 3 a.m. on May 7. Zakaria was setting up trays at Piazza della Vittoria market in the Madonna di Campagna neighborhood when he saw someone break a supermarket window. The suspect was another migrant. Zakaria quickly alerted the police and even pointed out where the man was hiding.
“He is hiding there, under that car,” Zakaria told officers. Thanks to his help, the police arrested the thief and recovered the stolen items. But the story took a surprising turn.
Security footage showed both the thief and Zakaria at the scene. Even though an Italian coworker confirmed Zakaria was working, the police checked his documents. That’s when they discovered he didn’t have legal permission to be in Italy.
Just hours after helping them, Zakaria was taken to the Turin police headquarters. He was issued an expulsion order and given seven days to leave the country. According to the police, he cannot apply for residency without a regular work contract.
Zakaria is now pleading for a second chance. “I made a good choice. I didn’t expect to be punished,” he said. “I just want to stay in Italy, work, and bring my wife here from Morocco. Please help me.”
Zakaria’s story has sparked debate across Italy. Many people ask if punishing someone who showed courage and civic responsibility is fair. While the law may be clear, some wonder if compassion should also play a role.