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By Global News Service
Giorgia Meloni’s administration has kicked off a controversial deal with Albania, which will see asylum seekers deported to the Balkan country while awaiting processing by Italian authorities.
Sixteen men from Bangladesh and Egypt are currently en route to Albania after being rescued by the Italian coast guard on October 13. The vessels they were traveling on, which originated from Libya, carried more people, but women, children, and the elderly were sent to Italy. These 16 men, however, were held back and are now being transported to the port of Schëngjin.
Once in Albania, they will go through their asylum application process at a distance. Regardless of the outcome, they are unlikely to set foot on Italian soil anytime soon. Under Meloni’s leadership, Italy is funding the construction and operation of a deportation center, an asylum processing center, and a prison in Albania.
SeaWatch, a non-profit focused on rescuing migrants at sea, has called the agreement a shameful chapter in Italy’s history. They compared the detention centers to “lagers,” referring to the pre-deportation detention centers already present in parts of Italy that hold a striking resemblance to concentration camps.
Meloni’s plans are gaining strong traction across Europe. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has offered financial support for sections of her policy plan, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently wrote about using the Italy-Albania deal as a blueprint for creating “return hubs” outside the EU.
from the Peoples Dispatch / Globetrotter News Service
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