ROME — Just one week in, Italy’s landmark scheme to send migrants to detention and asylum-processing centers in Albania has already stalled.
The immigration unit of the Rome Court on Friday ruled that migrants sent by Italy to Albania cannot be detained. This means that they must be released — but since they cannot be released in Albania under the agreement, they will likely be returned to Italy.
The centers became operational one week ago, with the first 16 migrants from Bangladesh and Egypt arriving on an Italian warship this Wednesday.
But shortly after their identification process was completed, four had to be sent back to Italy. Under the rules of the scheme, only male adults who are not considered vulnerable and who are from designated safe countries can be sent to the Albanian centers. Two were found to be under 18, and two others had health conditions.
Now, the remaining 12 also look set to be returned to Italy.
The Rome judges cited a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union from Oct. 4 in saying that the migrants’ countries of origin could not be designated “safe.”
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has described Italy as “a model” for immigration policy after she struck a deal with Albanian leader Edi Rama to process up to 30,000 migrants a year in Albanian centers.
The anti-immigration League party, which is part of Meloni’s coalition, called the court’s decision “serious and unacceptable.”
Rights groups welcomed the decision.
“At a time when EU leaders seem intent on twisting rules, common sense, and the bloc’s founding values, it’s heartening to see Italian judges uphold the rule of law,” said Judith Sunderland, associate Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
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