Thread: Italy rejects criticism of illegal immigration measures

Italy rejects criticism of measures
Jun 3, 2008 10:19 PM

Italy's foreign minister shrugged off the latest criticism of draft legislation to make illegal immigration a jailable offence, saying the country would be in good company once it came into law.

Franco Frattini said illegal immigration was already a criminal offence in France, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

"Should the bill be approved, I will be in fine company since the ... (measure) is already in force in important countries of the (European) Union," he said in an interview published on Tuesday in Il Messaggero newspaper.

The proposal is part of a package of measures against illegal immigration drafted by Silvio Berlusconi's government which have caused concern in Europe that they might foment racism.

It proposes to confiscate apartments rented to illegal immigrants, speed up expulsions, extend the time they can be held and turn some camps for immigrants into detention centres.

Outgoing United Nations human rights chief Louise Arbour criticised the measures on Monday, describing them as an example of repression and intolerance.

The Vatican also came out against them. Archbishop Agostino Marchetti telling Radio Vaticana that illegal immigrants should not be treated as criminals because those who worked were making a contribution to society.
http://tvnz.co.nz:80/view/page/536641/1826363

Good for Italy!

If only America had the guts to do what Italy has done.