Migrants, what the Bossi-Fini law approved 20 years ago is and how it works

The Bossi-Fini law, which came into force on 10 September 2002 with the second Berlusconi government, bears the name of the first signatories who were leaders of the National Alliance and the Northern League at the time: the then vice president of the Council of Ministers and the minister for reforms institutions and Devolution. It was approved by the Senate on February 28 with 153 votes in favour, 96 against and 2 abstentions, then passed to the Chamber which approved it with amendments on June 4 with 279 in favour, 203 against and one abstention. It was definitively approved by the Senate on 11 July with 146 in favour, 89 against and 3 abstentions. Among the novelties are expulsions with accompaniment to the border; the residence permit linked to effective work; tougher penalties for human traffickers; the amnesty for housekeepers, assistants to the elderly, the sick and the disabled, workers with an employment contract of at least one year; the use of Navy ships to counter the trafficking of illegal immigrants. Here are the main contents. – Only those in possession of an employment contract guaranteeing their economic maintenance can enter Italy. The residence permit lasts two years for those who have a permanent job, one in the other cases. If the person becomes unemployed, he/she is expected to return home. Criminal liability is foreseen for those who make false declarations. – Persons without a residence permit but with an identity document are immediately expelled by being accompanied to the border by the prefect of the province where they are tracked down. If the irregular person is also without an identity document, he is taken to the CIEs (Centres for Identification and Expulsion) for 60 days. Prison is also foreseen for those who return without complying with the law. – The possibility of using Navy ships to combat the trafficking of illegal immigrants has been given, and the penalties for trafficking in human beings will be increased. – Finally, an amnesty was foreseen with the start of the procedures for the regularization of cleaners, carers and workers with contracts of at least one year.