Italy: UN agency concerned over how new measures will affect asylum

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today expressed its concern over how newly approved measures in Italy would affect asylum.

Illegal immigration would be criminalized as part of a draft security package under the new provisions, which were approved by the Italian Council of Minister on Wednesday in Naples.

“While we understand that states face considerable challenges in dealing with illegal immigration we are concerned about the potentially prejudicial impact of these new measures on asylum in Italy,” UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis told reporters in Geneva, noting that the agency is looking forward to receiving the full text of the measures to review them in detail.

Under this new package, rejected asylum seekers could potentially have to leave Italy without having their appeals heard, while asylum seekers, who often have no other option than to arrive irregularly, could be charged with committing a crime, she added.