Italy's Constitutional Court has ruled
that a 1998 law that automatically halted the renewal of
residence permits if a migrant is convicted of felonies, even
minor ones, is invalid
The court said in a decision deposited on Monday that in cases
of migrants convicted of petty crimes, including the small-scale
dealing of soft drugs and the sale of counterfeit brand-name
items, the local police chief must decide on the renewal of the
residence permit on the basis whether the person poses a danger
to society.
Another court asked the Constitutional Court to decide on the
issue after two foreigners presented appeals against the refusal
to renew their residence permits.
One had been convicted of possessing and selling small amounts
of hashish and the other of selling fake brand-name goods.
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