Opponents of the creation in Italy of
10 new pre-removal detention centres (CPR) for irregular
migrants awaiting repatriation are "against security in the
country", Interior Undersecretary Nicola Molteni said on Friday.
"The ten existing CPR in Italy currently have about 1,200
places, but only between 600 and 700 are actually available,"
continued Molteni, of the right-wing government coalition
partner League.
"We are strong supporters of the need to set up these policed
and protected centres in order to remove individuals with
convictions and who represent a danger to the country," he said.
On Monday the government of Premier Giorgia Meloni approved a
decree providing for the creation of 10 additional CPR in Italy
in order to have a facility in every region as part of attempts
to stem the arrival of migrants and refugees from Africa.
The situation, said Molteni, "is absolutely exceptional and
urgenct. Tunisia is on the brink of economic, social and
financial bankruptcy. Italy has been left alone by the EU
institutions. Someone has not understood that those who land in
Lampedusa land in Europe".
"The CPR are part of this path and are needed to stop illegal
immigration, remove those who are a threat and a problem for
national security and, at the same time, support those who are
genuinely fleeing for humanitarian reasons," concluded the
undersecretary.
The government has tasked the defence ministry with identifying
sites for the new pre-removal centres amid criticism and
opposition from regional and local authorities across the
political spectrum.
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