Italian court blocks plan to detain migrants in Albania, orders return to Italy

An Italian court ruled Friday against the detention of 12 irregular migrants in Albania, instructing authorities to return them to Italy, according to local media reports. This decision is a significant setback for Italy’s controversial new initiative aimed at handling migrant arrivals outside its borders.

The group of migrants, consisting of 10 Bangladeshis and six Egyptians, was recently rescued at sea and transported by an Italian Navy ship to the Albanian port of Shëngjin on Wednesday. Four members of the group, including two minors and two individuals suffering from illnesses, were returned to Italy earlier, leaving 12 still detained in Albania.

The court in Rome rejected the continued detention of these remaining migrants, citing concerns that their home countries, Bangladesh and Egypt, are not considered safe. The ruling ordered their return to Bari, Italy, scheduled for Saturday.

The relocation plan is part of a broader initiative by Italy’s Interior Ministry to process migrants outside of the country’s borders, with Albania as a key partner. However, the court’s ruling undermines the program just days after the first group was transferred.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, stating that the judiciary should “apply the law,” according to Italian news agency ANSA.

Human rights organizations and advocacy groups have voiced strong opposition to the Italy-Albania agreement since its inception. Amnesty International and other groups criticized the deal earlier this year, labeling it as “unworkable, harmful, and unlawful.” These groups continue to push for the deal’s revocation.

The court’s decision raises questions about the feasibility of such migrant processing agreements. Italy’s plan has drawn parallels to the UK’s controversial initiative to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, which has faced its own legal challenges and criticism.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi vowed to appeal the ruling, emphasizing that Italy’s efforts in Albania would continue and potentially become European law. However, the backlash from opposition parties in Italy is growing. The Democratic Party and the Europe Party have called the initiative a failure, with demands for Piantedosi’s resignation.