Italian Court Blocks Government's Asylum Policy Shifting Migrants to Albania

Legal ruling may reshape Italy's approach to migrant detention and asylum claims.

Italian judges delivered a significant blow to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration on Friday, as they ruled against the government's contentious plan to detain migrants in Albania for processing asylum claims. This marked the first judicial intervention regarding Meloni's right-wing government's initiative, sparking uncertainty about its future viability.

The case involved a small group of twelve migrants, who were recently transferred to a detention center in Albania from an Italian naval vessel rescuing individuals off the Mediterranean coast. The judges argued that these migrants did not meet the criteria for detention in Albania, particularly in light of a recent ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union, which emphasized human rights considerations in asylum procedures.

Meloni's government aimed to divert asylum requests to Albania, which would mean that only certain categories of migrants could be processed outside Italy. Authorities planned to exclusively send "non-vulnerable" adult males from nations deemed "safe," including Egypt and Bangladesh, to the Balkan country. The initial group comprised six nationals from each of these countries, but their detention in Albania was short-lived after the judges mandated their return to Italy.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi announced intentions to appeal the ruling, expressing a commitment to pursue the matter through Italy's highest legal channels. This setback for the Italian government reflects broader concerns within Europe regarding how nations address immigration and asylum while complying with legal and human rights standards.