Appeal to the Senate on the ‘Security Decree’: the risk of widening irregularity

Rome (NEV), November 11, 2018 – “The appeal signatories look with great concern at the loss of  sense of balance and moderation in immigration policies, replaced by self-satisfaction for gestures and signs of harshness that, however, do not solve problems but exacerbate them producing further suffering”. This is the strongest passage of the appeal promoted by the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy (FCEI), together with the Community of St. Egidio, ACLI, Astalli Jesuit Refugee Service, Community Pope John XXIII Association, Milan House of Charity, Italian Caritas, Waldensian Board, Migrantes Foundation, Scalabrinian Development Cooperation Agency (ASCS). The appeal is addressed to the Senators of the Republic and invites them to intervene in the Senate when the decree will be presented for discussion to be turned into a law. The Law by Decree 4 October 2018, n.113 introduces radical changes in the regulations of asylum, immigration and citizenship.

The associations that signed the appeal, all of which are actively engaged in reception activities for migrants and asylum seekers, underline how, due to these rules, “approximately 140,000 people holding a residence permit for humanitarian reasons, risk to fall or to go back into a condition of irregular residence that will expose them to the risk of extreme poverty, marginality and deviance”.
Concern also for the increased resources for administrative detention of foreigners while, “at the same time, unfortunately, policies to promote integration are underestimated, and necessary political intelligence and investments are reduced”.

The Appeal also refers to the rules for the acquisition of citizenship, highlighting how “the decision to fix in 48 months the terms for the definition of citizenship applications presented by people who have been living in Italy for many years, assumes highly discriminatory tones”.