“Security package” introduces aggravating circumstance of “illegal stay in the national territory"

Policy Response DateMay 21, 2008 Country: Italy Address: Rome, General Type: Institutional discrimination Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia, Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants, Roma & Travelers, Asylum seekers Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Policing - law enforcement, Political discourse -parties - orgs

On 21st May 2008 the new government issues a “Security package” (a bill, a decree law, three legislative decrees) that provides for a new and general aggravating circumstance consisting of “illegal stay in the national territory”, a new crime consisting of unauthorised entry into the country (illegal immigration) and new provisions concerning asylum seekers, family reunions and EU citizens. On May 30, the Prime Minister issues three executive orders appointing in Rome, Naples, and Milan 'special commissioners for the Roma emergency' (the Prefects), with extraordinary powers that included measures to identify camp residents, including fingerprinting, and to facilitate the expulsion from the camps. The decision of fingerprinting all Roma, including minors, sparked harsh criticism from all Italian associations in defence of human rights, the Catholic church, the European Parliament and Commission. On 23rd July, the decree law is converted into law by the Parliament with some amendments (Legge n. 125, 24.07.2008). The new law confirms the aggravating circumstance of ‘illegal stay in the national territory’ and confers more powers on city mayors to prevent and eliminate dangers to public safety. The Ministry of Interior then carries out the census of Roma and Sinti camps according to guidelines issued on 22nd July. These guidelines provide that fingerprinting is not indiscriminate but it is only aimed at identifying persons ‘who cannot be identified in any other way’ and excludes the collection of ‘data relating to ethnic origin or the religion of people’. By september 2008, 700 unauthorised camps have been identified in Rome, Naples and Milan but also in other cities: Brescia, Pavia, Padova, Genova, Bologna, Reggio Emilia and Bari.

Source:

COSPE, Contribution to the FRA Annual Report 2009, October 2008 - /resources/toolip/doc/2011/11/13/cospe---raxen-rapporto-annuale-2009-italia---en.pdf

Legge 24 luglio 2008, n. 125, "Conversione in legge, con modificazioni, del decreto-legge 23 maggio 2008, n. 92, recante misure urgenti in materia di sicurezza pubblica", pubblicata nella Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 173 del 25 luglio 2008 - http://www.camera.it/parlam/leggi/08125l.htm (Date of access: 21.11.2011)

Ministero dell'Interno, 22.07.2008, Linee guida in materia di censimento delle comunità nomadi, press release - http://www.interno.it/mininterno/export/sites/default/it/sezioni/sala_stampa/comunicati/0700_2008_07_22_linee_guida_censimento_nomadi.html_1742614992.html (Date of access: 21.11.2011)

Ministero dell’Interno, Censimento dei campi nomadi, press release - http://www.interno.it/mininterno/site/it/sezioni/sala_stampa/speciali/censimento_nomadi/inde x.html (Date of access: 21.11.2011)