A coalition of migration organizations in Italy, known as Tavolo Asilo e Immigrazione (TAI), has renewed criticism of the Italian government’s decision to process migrants in centers located in Albania. The group said that most migrants sent to these centers end up returning to Italy instead of being repatriated to their home countries.
Members of the coalition, along with lawmakers from Italy and representatives from the European Parliament, visited the repatriation center in Gjader on October 28. After the visit, they said the system is failing and raised concerns about whether the detentions have a legal basis. Several opposition politicians also supported the criticism.
According to TAI, around 70 percent of migrants detained in the Albanian center were later returned to Italy because judges did not authorize their detention. Only about 30 percent were actually processed for repatriation. TAI said this shows that the centers are not functioning as planned.
The group added that the detentions appear to violate European legal standards, including rulings from the European Court of Human Rights. They argued that the centers risk becoming examples of arbitrary deprivation of freedom, which has been legally challenged in the past.
Why are the centers being questioned?
Critics say that many detentions are not legally approved, migrants are being transported back and forth without results, and the system may violate European human rights laws.
Opposition MP Riccardo Magi from the +Europa Party said the government originally claimed the centers would process up to 36,000 migrants a year, but only around 200 have been processed in the past year and a half. He noted that the initial arrival center in Shengjin is no longer operating. He called the system ineffective and costly.
Another opposition MP, Rachele Scarpa from the Democratic Party (PD), said the repatriations are “illegitimate” and continue even though Italy’s own Court of Cassation asked the European Court of Justice to review the policy. She pointed out that some migrants were flown to Albania only to later be returned to Italy before being sent to their home countries.
Critics also raised concerns about the cost. PD MP Matteo Orfini said the centers could cost up to one billion euros over five years. He argued that this could amount to roughly 650,000 euros for each migrant processed, a figure he called extremely wasteful.