 "Italian Senate moves to ease tough immigration rules")
The Italian Senate backed a draft law that would decriminalise illegal immigration in a move that will please migrant rights advocates but has sparked anger from the populist Northern League party.
The measure taken by the senate yesterday, which now has to go to the Chamber of Deputies lower house for final approval, declassifies irregular immigration from a "crime", which risks prison time, to an "administrative infraction".
The draft text said it would still be a crime if migrants return following an expulsion order or if they fail to report to police when asked to do so, which happens often with undocumented migrants.
The draft was the result of a compromise between leftists and rightists in Italy's uneasy governing coalition but angered the anti-immigration Northern League, a minor but vocal opposition party.
"No to abolishing the crime of illegal immigration!" read signs help up by senators from the party.
The measure taken by the senate yesterday, which now has to go to the Chamber of Deputies lower house for final approval, declassifies irregular immigration from a "crime", which risks prison time, to an "administrative infraction".
The draft text said it would still be a crime if migrants return following an expulsion order or if they fail to report to police when asked to do so, which happens often with undocumented migrants.
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Italian prisons are full of migrants jailed for illegal immigration and the laws have been criticised for putting off potential rescuers of migrants at sea who can be charged with aiding and abetting.
The draft was the result of a compromise between leftists and rightists in Italy's uneasy governing coalition but angered the anti-immigration Northern League, a minor but vocal opposition party.
"No to abolishing the crime of illegal immigration!" read signs help up by senators from the party.