A new migrant reception center in Vinchiaturo, Italy, is drawing political attention due to its proximity to two schools. Located in the town’s industrial area in the Molise region, the facility has 100 places for adult men. Residents and politicians have expressed concerns about safety and the impact on local life.
Angelo Primiani, a regional councillor for the 5-Star Movement, said he was “genuinely perplexed” about placing a migrant center so near a nursery school and a high school. He added that the presence of the center has caused worry among students, parents, and residents who regularly visit the area.
Primiani stressed that the concerns are not rooted in prejudice but in practical issues. He pointed out minor incidents of petty crime and the daily risk posed by migrants crossing a busy state highway to reach the town or other facilities. He plans to write to the Prefect, request a meeting with law enforcement, and inform the Minister of the Interior about the situation.
Why are residents worried about the center?
It is very close to schools and involves daily movement along a busy highway.
This proximity creates safety risks for students, parents, drivers, and the migrants themselves.
The Mayor of Vinchiaturo, Luigi Valente, confirmed that the local government has already raised concerns with national authorities. On September 15, he sent a letter to the Prefecture of Campobasso highlighting potential emergencies in healthcare, public order, and civil protection due to the center’s location.
Valente also mentioned complaints from the local Carabinieri station about inappropriate behavior by some migrants, which could increase social tensions. The facility’s location near a nursery school and a hospitality management high school adds to worries about children’s safety.
Primiani criticized the current approach to migrant facilities in Italy, saying that scattered centers across the territory create challenges without structural solutions. Both local officials are seeking responses from authorities on whether the center should continue operating and what safety measures will be implemented.
The situation highlights the delicate balance between providing humanitarian support for migrants and ensuring safety and quality of life for local communities in Italy.