Migrants in Italy are confronting escalating discrimination, as highlighted in a recent report from Centro Astalli, the Jesuit service for refugees in Italy, published on April 18, 2024. Moreover, the report underscores a troubling trend of diminishing asylum rights for refugees within the country.
The report highlights restrictive policies towards migrants, including those aiming to dissuade departures towards the EU, such as the deportation agreement with Albania. Additionally, 2023 marked the deadliest year on record for migrants attempting to reach the EU via Mediterranean routes, with 8,541 individuals losing their lives worldwide, including 3,105 in the Mediterranean Sea during attempted crossings.
The report condemns policies that endanger human rights, criticizing political responses like counteracting humanitarian rescue missions, economic agreements to deter arrivals, and stricter asylum seeker access rules in Europe. It also highlights the outsourcing of border control, pushbacks, and illegal expulsions, which result in many individuals being trapped in dangerous situations.
Furthermore, bureaucratic hurdles and administrative complexities are described as obstacles to the right to asylum, creating “labyrinths” that prevent or burden asylum seekers. The report also notes a shift in reception from a right to a concession, exacerbated by insufficient investment in inclusion initiatives.
Camillo Ripamonti, chairman of Centro Astalli, criticizes the simplistic approach of urgent decrees in 2023, which fail to address individual needs. He highlights the difficulties faced by migrants and refugees, including traumas and vulnerabilities across various aspects of life, such as healthcare and housing. For instance, out of 235 people received by Centro Astalli in Rome, one out of every six has been a victim of torture and violence, while one out of every five suffers from health problems.