Migrants Decree, government amendments ready to implement the squeeze

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There are two maxi amendments proposed by the government to the Migrants decree of 9 March and ‘stamped’ by the Ministry of the Economy. They should soon be deposited in the Constitutional Affairs commission of the Senate, which is examining the provision in first reading and which is convened at 2 pm. This is an addition to article 5 which introduces measures for the technical-logistical upgrading of the centers of first reception, changes to the reception system and reduction and revocation of reception conditions.

The other amendment is an addition to article 7 of the decree, concerning the accelerated procedures for examining applications for international protection at the border and immediate accompaniment to the borders. There are no changes on special protection, on which the government would be inclined to introduce a further tightening, because they should be introduced by a further amendment on which the executive is working

From 2021, only 5.45% of special protections have been transformed into work permits

It hits a datum. Out of 44,436 residence permits for special protection issued since the beginning of 2021, only 2,424, equal to 5.45%, have been transformed into work permits. This possibility was offered to migrants by the Minister of the Interior Luciana Lamorgese who, with decree law 130 of 21 October 2020, in amending the safety decrees signed by Salvini, had expanded the conditions for the release of special protection, effectively transforming it into a permit valid for two years, which allowed for work to be carried out and could therefore be converted into a work permit. The conversion percentages have remained very low over the last two years: in 2021 out of 13,039 permits issued, 578 were converted into work permits, equal to 4.43%, while in the following year of the 22,528, 1,184 were converted, equal to at 5.25%. This year, out of 8,869 permits, 662 were converted, equal to 7.46%.

Detention in the prisons and the construction of new centres

But measures are also being worked on which strengthen the possibility of holding foreigners in detention centers for repatriation (CPR): both for those who do not allow themselves to be identified during the border procedure and for asylum seekers subjected to the Dublin and awaiting transfer, if there is a “significant risk of absconding” and for a maximum of six weeks, which can be extended for a further six weeks. The government amendments also aim to extend the wide derogation faculties already recognized by the Legislative Decree for the construction of new CPRs (those active today are ten for 1,300 places, the goal is at least doubling) also to reception facilities and “points of crisis”

The appointment of the extraordinary commissioner

Meanwhile, the Viminale and Civil Protection technicians have already met to draw up the first ordinance allowed by the state of emergency: it will be the one for the appointment of the extraordinary commissioner, in all probability the prefect Valerio Valenti, head of the civil liberties and immigration department of the ministry of ‘Internal.