[adnkronos.com] More than 3,000 illegal migrants have been expelled from Italy since the beginning of 2009 as part of the government’s crackdown. Interior minister Roberto Maroni announced the figures in an interview aired on Radio Rai Uno.
"More than 3,000 illegal immigrants were expelled. We want to intensify this action, because whoever comes to Italy to work can enjoy all rights, except voting, but those who do not come to work, must be expelled," said Maroni.
Maroni (photo) also said that Italy’s agreement with Libya to control illegal immigration was being implemented "with difficulty".
"Today, a Libyan delegation will arrive in Italy to look at the patrol boats that Italy will provide for the surveillance of Libya’s coast. As soon as they depart and begin patrolling, the influx of immigrants from Libya will stop," he said.
Italy and Libya last month signed a protocol for a bilateral accord originally endorsed in December 2007 to combat illegal immigration.
The signing of the protocol took place during Maroni’s visit to the Libyan capital, Tripoli. It followed the Italian Senate’s ratification of the Friendship, Partnership and Cooperation Treaty between the two countries.
Under the treaty Italy will give Libya millions of dollars in aid while Libya will allow the Italian military to join its naval force in monitoring the country’s coasts against illegal immigration.
Maroni said that more than 30,000 immigrants had arrived on the Sicilian coast in 2008.
He said that as soon as patrols begin in Libya, the southern Italian island of Lampedusa "will be freed from this burden."
Lampedusa is a tiny island that is closer to Africa than the European continent and a favourite drop off point for people smugglers, particularly during the summer months.
Hundreds arrive each week in search of a better life in Europe aboard people smugglers‘ boats which mostly set sail from North Africa, notably Tunisia, Libya and Morocco.
In mid-February, asylum seekers set fire to an immigration centre in Lampedusa allegedly after some detainees accepted food, breaking a pact for a hunger strike.
"The illegal immigrants who set fire to the Lampedusa immigration centre behaved in this manner because they hoped to be transferred to another immigration centre and then be released," said Maroni.
The centre has been transformed by the conservative government of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi from a temporary assessment centre for medical and social aid, to a permanent holding facility.
According to official figures compiled by the Italian government and the United Nations‘ refugee agency, around 36,000 boat people arrived in Italy last year – a 75 per cent increase over the number of arrivals in 2007.
Source: http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.3096259574
