Immigration to Italy

File:Mappa stranieri in Italia 2023.png

File:Festa_della_Patata_2015.jpg (Lombardy) in 2015]]

File:Foreign citizens in Italy - 2022.jpg

File:Foreign citizens in Italy 2022.jpg

On foreigners only, for more information dealing with foreigners who have subsequently acquired Italian citizenship refer to Eurostat site.

• Turkey has been counted as an Asian country
• Sudan and Mauritania have been counted in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Afghanistan has been counted in South Asia

According to the Ministry of Justice, the Italian prison population in 2019 counted 60,769 and of those 32.7% were foreigners. The largest groups came from Morocco (3,651), Albania (2,402), Romania (2,386), Tunisia (2,020), Nigeria (1,665).

Amongst national origins counting more than 5,000 individuals at national level, Algeria, followed by Gambia and Tunisia, had the biggest proportion of detainees (with, respectively, 25.8, 23.7 and 20.7 inmates per 1,000 residents). On the other hand, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines had the lowest proportion of inmates per 1,000 residents (respectively, 0.13, and 0.50 for both Thailand and the Philippines).{{Cite web |title=Detenuti stranieri presenti - aggiornamento al 31 dicembre 2019 |url=https://www.giustizia.it/giustizia/it/mg_1_14_1.page?facetNode_1=0_2&facetNode_2=0_2_10&facetNode_3=3_1_6&facetNode_4=0_2_10_3&contentId=SST238927&previsiousPage=mg_1_14 |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109125706/https://www.giustizia.it/giustizia/it/mg_1_14_1.page?facetNode_1=0_2&facetNode_2=0_2_10&facetNode_3=3_1_6&facetNode_4=0_2_10_3&contentId=SST238927&previsiousPage=mg_1_14 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Detenuti italiani e stranieri presenti e capienze per istituto - aggiornamento al 31 dicembre 2019 |url=https://www.giustizia.it/giustizia/it/mg_1_14_1.page?facetNode_1=0_2&facetNode_2=0_2_10&facetNode_3=3_1_6&contentId=SST238852&previsiousPage=mg_1_14 |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109125710/https://www.giustizia.it/giustizia/it/mg_1_14_1.page?facetNode_1=0_2&facetNode_2=0_2_10&facetNode_3=3_1_6&contentId=SST238852&previsiousPage=mg_1_14 |url-status=live }}

{{See also|Opposition to immigration in Europe}}

In 2018, a poll by Pew Research found that a majority (71%) wanted fewer immigrants to be allowed into the country, 18% wanted to keep the current level and 5% wanted to increase immigration.{{Cite web |last1=Connor |first1=Phillip |last2=Krogstad |first2=Jens Manuel |title=Many worldwide oppose more migration – both into and out of their countries |url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/12/10/many-worldwide-oppose-more-migration-both-into-and-out-of-their-countries/ |access-date=2019-01-29 |website=Pew Research Center |date=10 December 2018 |language=en-US |archive-date=10 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210165415/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/12/10/many-worldwide-oppose-more-migration-both-into-and-out-of-their-countries/ |url-status=live }}

A 2019 poll by Yougov showed that 53% thought authorities should not accept more refugees from conflict areas, 25% were in favour of more refugees and 19% were undecided.{{Cite news |date=2019-05-13 |title=Inmigración y medio ambiente centran la inquietud de los europeos |language=es |work=El País |url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2019/05/10/actualidad/1557507327_934513.html |access-date=2019-05-14 |issn=1134-6582 |archive-date=13 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513101837/https://elpais.com/internacional/2019/05/10/actualidad/1557507327_934513.html |url-status=live }}

According to poll published by Corriere della Sera in 2019, one of two respondents (51%) approved closing Italy's ports to further boat migrants arriving via the Mediterranean, while 19% welcomed further boat migrants.{{Cite web|url=https://www.corriere.it/politica/19_gennaio_11/colpe-dell-emergenza-migranti-salvini-conte-dimaio-dacb3282-15e0-11e9-9cd3-6f68d3bb44a0.shtml|title=Le colpe dell'emergenza migranti? Il 60% punta il dito contro l'Europa|last=Pagnoncelli|first=Nando|date=2019-11-01|website=Corriere della Sera|language=it|access-date=2019-01-12|archive-date=12 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112212927/https://www.corriere.it/politica/19_gennaio_11/colpe-dell-emergenza-migranti-salvini-conte-dimaio-dacb3282-15e0-11e9-9cd3-6f68d3bb44a0.shtml|url-status=live}}

In 2021, 77% of Italians thought the current immigrant influx was too high, as underlined by a poll published by La Repubblica and carried out by YouGov.{{Cite web |title=Sondaggio YouGov sull'immigrazione: "Per il 77% degli italiani è troppo alta" |date=23 December 2021 |url=https://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2021/12/23/news/immigrazione_sondaggio_you_gov_focus_italia-331331594/ |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109125703/https://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2021/12/23/news/immigrazione_sondaggio_you_gov_focus_italia-331331594/ |url-status=live }}

File:2015 sicily.jpg, 2015. The Arab Spring and the Syrian War created factors that led to a migrant crisis that saw hundred of thousands of boat-dwellers seeking refuge in Italy and other Mediterranean countries.]]

Due to the peninsula geographical position and close proximity to the North Africa coast, the crossing of the Mediterranean Sea has historically been the most used route for undocumented migrants. This route has become gradually more prominent, as flow through other routes to the EU gradually faded and political turmoil in Libya caused a general weakening of borders and coastal control, opening opportunities to people smuggling organisations.

The principal destination for sea crossings boats and rafts are the southernmost Italian territories, the Pelagie Islands. These islands are 113 km from Tunisia, 167 from Libya and 207 from Sicily.

The close distance between these islands and the African mainland has caused people smuggling organisations to employ boats and rafts otherwise hardly seaworthy, generally vastly filled above their capacity. Official reports list boats filled up to 2 or 3 times nominal capacity, including the use of rubber dinghies. This has led to several accidents at sea, as in 2007, the 2009, the 2011, the 2013, 2015.{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21606301-more-horrific-deaths-mediterranean-tidal-wave |title=Italy's illegal immigrants: Tidal wave |newspaper=The Economist |date=5 July 2014 |access-date=1 September 2017 |archive-date=25 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025075109/https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21606301-more-horrific-deaths-mediterranean-tidal-wave |url-status=live }} These accidents have become harder to document between 2014 and 2017, as people smuggling organisations changed their tactics: instead of aiming for a full crossing of the sea towards Lampedusa, their boats aimed just to exit Libyan territorial waters and then trigger rescue operation from passing mercantile vessels, seek and rescue organisations, Italian and Maltese coastguards and militaries. As per the United Nations Convention of the Sea, of which Italy is a subscriber, people rescued at sea have to be transported to the closest safe harbor: as Libya continues to be in political turmoil this means they are transported to Italy.

Once in Italy, the EU Dublin Regulation requires migrants to apply for legal residence, protection or asylum permits in the first EU country they cross into, effectively barring them from legally crossing internal EU borders until their case has been processed and positively concluded. As the vast majority of migrant people landing in Italy targets destinations in Central and Northern European States, there is a tendency to avoid filing permits applications in Italy and rather try a northwards land journey.{{cite news |last1=Grant |first1=Harriet |last2=Domokos |first2=John |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/07/dublin-regulation-european-asylum-seekers |title=Dublin regulation leaves asylum seekers with their fingers burnt |work=The Guardian |date=7 October 2011 |access-date=14 December 2016 |archive-date=23 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023104355/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/07/dublin-regulation-european-asylum-seekers |url-status=live }}

File:Refugees and migrants arriving in Italy by sea, 1997–2021.png

As a reaction to the gradual increase in migration flows through the Mediterranean Sea, Italian governments stepped up cooperation with Tunisian and Libyan authorities to halt activities of people smuggling organisation on land, as well as to allow boats rescued from the Italian Military in international waters to be towed back to the port where they left from. This policy, enacted in 2004 and 2005, sparked controversies related in particular to the compatibility with Italian and EU laws, as numerous reports documented acts of violence from Libyan authorities on migrant people. The policy was openly criticised by the EU Parliament.[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2005-0138+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN European Parliament resolution on Lampedusa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301170111/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2F%2FEP%2F%2FTEXT+TA+P6-TA-2005-0138+0+DOC+XML+V0%2F%2FEN |date=1 March 2017 }}, 14 April 2005

In 2008, Berlusconi's government in Italy and Gaddafi's government in Libya signed a treaty including cooperation between the two countries in stopping unlawful migration from Libya to Italy; this led to a policy of forcibly returning to Libya boat migrants intercepted by the Italian coast guard at sea.{{cite web|title=Pushed Back, Pushed Around|url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2009/09/21/pushed-back-pushed-around/italys-forced-return-boat-migrants-and-asylum-seekers|publisher=Human Rights Watch|date=21 September 2009|access-date=10 March 2016|archive-date=8 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608213123/https://www.hrw.org/report/2009/09/21/pushed-back-pushed-around/italys-forced-return-boat-migrants-and-asylum-seekers|url-status=live}} The cooperation collapsed following the outbreak of the Libyan civil war in 2011. In 2012 the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Italy had violated the European Convention on Human Rights by returning migrants to Libya, as it exposed the migrants to the risk of being subjected to ill-treatment in Libya and violated the prohibition of collective expulsions.,{{cite web|title=Italy: 'Historic' European Court judgment upholds migrants' rights|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2012/02/italy-historic-european-court-judgment-upholds-migrants-rights/|publisher=Amnesty International|date=23 February 2012|access-date=10 March 2016|archive-date=10 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310190152/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2012/02/italy-historic-european-court-judgment-upholds-migrants-rights/|url-status=live}} thus effectively ending the policy.

File:P31 L.É. Eithne Operations 28 June 2015.jpg

In 2009, as the flow of migrants picked up again, the overcrowded conditions at the Pelagie Islands' temporary immigrant reception centre came under criticism by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The unit, which was originally built for a maximum capacity of 850 people, was reported to be housing nearly 2,000 boat people. A significant number of people were sleeping outdoors under plastic sheeting.{{cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/497991064.html|title=News|author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|access-date=5 February 2016|archive-date=8 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108222930/http://www.unhcr.org/news/NEWS/497991064.html/|url-status=live}} A fire started as an inmate riot destroyed a large portion of the holding facility on 19 February 2009.

In 2011, as Arab Spring rebellions in Tunisia and Libya disrupted government control over borders and coasts, by May 2011, more than 35,000 immigrants had arrived on the island of Lampedusa from Tunisia and Libya.{{cite news| url=https://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE74D02Z20110514 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517012227/http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE74D02Z20110514 | url-status=dead | archive-date=17 May 2011 | work=Reuters | title=Hundreds more migrants reach Italy from Africa | date=14 May 2011}} By the end of August, 48,000 had arrived.{{cite web|url=https://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/World/Story/A1Story20110826-296417.html|title=Gaddafi planned to turn Italian island into migrant hell|publisher=AsiaOne|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927221510/http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/World/Story/A1Story20110826-296417.html|archive-date=27 September 2016|df=dmy-all}}

As migration and asylum policies are exclusive responsibilities of each member State, the increased migration pressure at the EU Southern border sparked tensions between EU States on how to differentiate between people migrating due to economic reasons, which in principle are regarded as unlawful immigrants and thus are forced to leave or deported, and people fleeing violence or persecution for religious, sexual orientation, political reasons, who can be granted asylum rights.{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jYWyqZanCi2M7i3Z_qsl0FmHlBkA?docId%3D6562488|title= Canadian Press |access-date=2016-02-26 |df=dmy }}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} As the Libyan authoritarian governments struggled to keep control of the country, it allowed an increase in northbound migrant flows as a tactic to pressure Italy and the EU not to militarily intervene in the country, as Gaddafi feared his regime would be overthrown.

Some Italian towns and cities disobeyed instructions from the national government to house migrants.{{cite news |last1=Legorno |first1=Giovanni |title=Italian Towns Push Back on Growing Burden of Europe's Migrant Crisis |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/italian-towns-push-back-on-growing-burden-of-europes-migrant-crisis-1430085784 |access-date=18 August 2015 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=28 April 2015 |archive-date=18 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818060144/http://www.wsj.com/articles/italian-towns-push-back-on-growing-burden-of-europes-migrant-crisis-1430085784 |url-status=live }} The Mafia Capitale investigation revealed that the Italian Mafia profited from the migrant crisis and exploited refugees."[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0d0371d0-31f4-11e5-8873-775ba7c2ea3d.html Italy's Mafia learns to profit from the migration crisis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118031149/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0d0371d0-31f4-11e5-8873-775ba7c2ea3d.html |date=18 November 2015 }}". Financial Times. 24 July 2015"[http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/how-the-mafia-profits-from-the-mediterranean-migrant-crisis/6573084 'Bigger than drugs': how the Mafia profits from the Mediterranean migrant crisis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009192908/http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/how-the-mafia-profits-from-the-mediterranean-migrant-crisis/6573084 |date=9 October 2017 }}". ABC News. 29 June 2015 The murder of Ashley Ann Olsen in her Italian apartment by an illegal immigrant from Senegal rapidly acquired political significance in the context of the European migrant crisis. The police chief of Florence addressed safety concerns and "assur[ed] the public that Florence remained safe" in the wake of the Olsen murder.{{cite news |last1=Pianigiani |first1=Gaia |title=Italy Arrests Suspect in Death of American Woman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/15/world/europe/ashley-ann-olsen-italy-arrest.html |work=New York Times |date=14 January 2016 |access-date=2019-12-31 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828203933/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/15/world/europe/ashley-ann-olsen-italy-arrest.html |url-status=live }}

File:Messina1.jpgn migrants in Messina, October 2015]]

Since 2014, thousands of migrants have tried every month to cross the Central Mediterranean to Italy, risking their lives on unsafe boats including fishing trawlers.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/24/libyas-people-smugglers-how-will-they-catch-us-theyll-soon-move-on |title=Libya's people smugglers: inside the trade that sells refugees hopes of a better life | World news |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=2018-06-28 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828203933/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/24/libyas-people-smugglers-how-will-they-catch-us-theyll-soon-move-on |url-status=live }} Many of them were fleeing poverty-stricken homelands or war-torn countries and sought economic opportunity within the EU.{{cite news |last1=Scammell |first1=Rosie |title=Mediterranean migrant crisis: number of arrivals in Italy in 2015 passes 50,000 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/07/mediterranean-migrant-arrivals-italy-passes-50000 |access-date=14 August 2015 |work=The Guardian |date=7 June 2015 |archive-date=15 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815114523/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/07/mediterranean-migrant-arrivals-italy-passes-50000 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11549216/The-EU-migrant-crisis-explained-in-90-seconds.html |title=Video: The EU migrant crisis explained in 90 seconds – Telegraph |date=22 April 2015 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=28 August 2015 |location=London |first=Joe |last=Daunt |archive-date=25 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825032141/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11549216/The-EU-migrant-crisis-explained-in-90-seconds.html |url-status=live }} Italy, and, in particular, its southern island of Lampedusa, received enormous numbers of Africans and Middle-Easterners transported by smugglers and NGOs operating along the ungoverned coast of the failed state of Libya.{{cite news |title=Mapping Mediterranean migration |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-24521614 |access-date=14 August 2015 |publisher=BBC |date=15 September 2014 |archive-date=27 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827042009/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-24521614 |url-status=live }}

There were 153,842 Mediterranean sea arrivals to Italy in 2015, 9 percent less than the previous year; most of the refugees and migrants came from Eritrea, Nigeria, and Somalia, whereas the number of Syrian refugees sharply decreased, as most of them took the Eastern Mediterranean route from Turkey to Greece.{{cite web|url=http://www.libertaciviliimmigrazione.interno.it/dipim/site/it/documentazione/statistiche/servizi_civili/2016/1_2016_Statistiche_2015_sbarchix_esiti_domande_di_asilo_e_posti_in_strutture_accoglienza.html |title=Statistiche immigrazione |publisher=Italian Ministry of the Interior |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328233432/http://www.libertaciviliimmigrazione.interno.it/dipim/site/it/documentazione/statistiche/servizi_civili/2016/1_2016_Statistiche_2015_sbarchix_esiti_domande_di_asilo_e_posti_in_strutture_accoglienza.html |archive-date=28 March 2016 }}

The first three months of 2016 saw an increase in the number of migrants rescued at sea being brought to southern Italian ports."[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants-eu-idUSKCN0XA1EO EU sees 'alarming' migrant buildup in Libya, warns Italy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828190832/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants-eu-idUSKCN0XA1EO |date=28 August 2021 }}". Reuters. 13 April 2016."[https://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-wants-austria-to-explain-threat-to-close-border-with-italy-1460719198 Tensions Mount Between Austria and Italy as Migrant Numbers Rise] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828175445/https://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-wants-austria-to-explain-threat-to-close-border-with-italy-1460719198 |date=28 August 2021 }}". The Wall Street Journal. 15 April 2016."[http://navaltoday.com/2016/03/17/german-warship-rescues-615-from-the-mediterranean/ German warship rescues 615 from the Mediterranean] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729191141/https://www.navaltoday.com/2016/03/17/german-warship-rescues-615-from-the-mediterranean/ |date=29 July 2021 }}". Naval Today. 17 March 2016. In April 2016, nearly 6,000 mostly sub-Saharan African migrants landed in Italy in four days."[http://qz.com/663014/photos-in-the-last-four-days-6000-migrants-have-arrived-to-sicily-by-boat-from-libya/ In the last four days, 6,000 migrants have arrived in Sicily by boat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828190237/https://qz.com/663014/photos-in-the-last-four-days-6000-migrants-have-arrived-to-sicily-by-boat-from-libya/ |date=28 August 2021 }}". Quartz. 16 April 2016. In June 2016, over 10,000 migrants were rescued in four days."[http://www.dw.com/en/italian-coastguard-and-navy-rescue-3300-migrants-off-coast-of-libya/a-19358699 Italian coastguard and navy rescue 3,300 migrants off coast of Libya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225072745/http://www.dw.com/en/italian-coastguard-and-navy-rescue-3300-migrants-off-coast-of-libya/a-19358699 |date=25 February 2021 }}". Deutsche Welle. 27 June 2016. In 2016, 181,100 migrants arrived in Italy by sea."[https://www.thelocal.it/20170106/italys-boat-migrant-numbers-surged-20-in-2016 Italy boat migrant numbers surge 20% in 2016] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803045714/https://www.thelocal.it/20170106/italys-boat-migrant-numbers-surged-20-in-2016/ |date=3 August 2021 }}". The Local. 6 January 2017.

In April 2017, more than 8,000 migrants were rescued near Libya and brought to Italy in three days."[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/18/8000-migrants-rescued-mediterranean-brought-italy-easter-long/ More than 8,000 migrants rescued in Mediterranean and brought to Italy over Easter long weekend ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828175449/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/18/8000-migrants-rescued-mediterranean-brought-italy-easter-long/ |date=28 August 2021 }}". The Daily Telegraph. 18 April 2017. From January to November 2017, approximately 114,600 migrants arrived in Italy by sea."[http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/north-africa/2017/11/23/Italy-says-1-100-migrants-from-Libyan-coast-rescued-in-one-day.html Italy: 1,100 migrants rescued from Libyan coast in one day] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109011934/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/north-africa/2017/11/23/Italy-says-1-100-migrants-from-Libyan-coast-rescued-in-one-day.html |date=9 November 2020 }}". Al Arabiya. 23 November 2017. Approximately 5,000 African migrants were rescued in waters off the coast of Libya between 18 and 20 May 2017."[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/5000-refugees-rescued-route-italy-libya-170520134511012.html 5,000 refugees rescued on route to Italy from Libya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908031719/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/5000-refugees-rescued-route-italy-libya-170520134511012.html |date=8 September 2020 }}". Al Jazeera. 20 May 2017.

Since 2013, Italy took in over 700,000 migrants,{{cite web |title=What will Italy's new government mean for migrants? |url=https://www.thelocal.it/20180521/what-will-italys-new-government-mean-for-migrants |website=The Local |date=21 May 2018 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=1 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401231010/https://www.thelocal.it/20180521/what-will-italys-new-government-mean-for-migrants |url-status=live }} mainly from sub-Saharan Africa.{{cite news |title=African migrants fear for future as Italy struggles with surge in arrivals |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-migrants-africa/african-migrants-fear-for-future-as-italy-struggles-with-surge-in-arrivals-idUSKBN1A30QD |work=Reuters |date=18 July 2017 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402002627/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-migrants-africa/african-migrants-fear-for-future-as-italy-struggles-with-surge-in-arrivals-idUSKBN1A30QD |url-status=live }}

In September 2023, Boats, carrying roughly 7,000 migrants—more than the total population of Lampedusa—arrived on the island within the span of 24 hours.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-15 |title=What's behind the surge in migrant arrivals to Italy? |url=https://apnews.com/article/migration-italy-lampedusa-3b47cdacb91c2d72f99b11aa396a6d59 |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{cite web | url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230914-around-7-000-migrants-arrive-on-italy-s-lampedusa-island-in-past-two-days | title=Around 7,000 migrants arrive on Italy's Lampedusa island in past two days | date=14 September 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/15/europe/italy-lampedusa-migrant-crisis-intl/index.html | title=7,000 people arrive on Italian island of 6,000 as migrant crisis overwhelms Lampedusa | website=CNN | date=15 September 2023 }}

In 2023, 155,754 migrants arrived in Italy, up from 103,846 in 2022.{{cite web | url=https://etias.com/articles/italy-migrant-surge-2023#:~:text=According%20to%20data%20disclosed%20on,25%2C673%20people%20reaching%20Italian%20shores. | title=Italy Witnesses 50% Surge in Migrant Arrivals in 2023 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/54260/italy-reports-50-increase-in-migrant-landings-in-2023 | title=Italy reports 50% increase in migrant landings in 2023 | date=3 January 2024 }}{{cite web | url=https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/europes-open-back-door-italian-migration-up-50-in-2023/ | title=Europe's Open Back Door: Italian Migration up 50% in 2023 | date=4 January 2024 }}

After 2015, as an increased use of unseaworthy vessels by people smuggling organisations caused a marked increase in accidents at sea involving loss of lives, several European NGOs have started seek and rescue operations in close coordination with Italian Navy and coast guard units. These operations often happen close to Libyan territorial waters at the same time in order not to unlawfully enter Libyan jurisdictions and yet ensure migrants' safety. As per UNCLOS, rescued people are brought to the closer safe harbor, which is in most cases on Italian shore. This effectively means NGOs vessels are covering most of the distance between Libyan and Italian coast.

Right-wing Italian newspapers and activists picked on that to make various claims, among which that NGOs active in migrants' assistance and rescue at sea would reap financial profits from their collaboration with the Italian authorities,{{cite news | url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/cronache/ecco-i-conti-segreti-delle-coop-ricche-grazie-ai-migranti-1418973.html | work=ilgiornale.it | first=Giuseppe | last=De Lorenzo | title=Le 15 coop dalle "uova d'oro": 100 milioni lucrati sui profughi | date=12 July 2017 | access-date=12 July 2017 | archive-date=14 July 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714235944/http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/cronache/ecco-i-conti-segreti-delle-coop-ricche-grazie-ai-migranti-1418973.html | url-status=live }} or that some NGOs are part of unlawful people smuggling operations in coordination with operatives on Libyan coast, and funded by international criminal groups and financial institutions interested in developing political turmoil in Italy.{{cite news | url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/nomi-finanziatori-e-intrighi-ecco-tutti-i-segreti-delle-navi-1388158.html | work=ilgiornale.it | title=Nomi, finanziatori e intrighi. Ecco tutti i segreti delle navi Ong | date=10 July 2017 | access-date=12 July 2017 | archive-date=16 July 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716100508/http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/nomi-finanziatori-e-intrighi-ecco-tutti-i-segreti-delle-navi-1388158.html | url-status=live }}

The Italian Parliament investigated these claims and has found them to be unsubstantiated, with no further actions.{{cite news | url=http://www.senato.it/japp/bgt/showdoc/frame.jsp?tipodoc=SommComm&leg=17&id=1022634 | work=Senato.it | title=DOCUMENTO CONCLUSIVO APPROVATO DALLA COMMISSIONE SULL'INDAGINE CONOSCITIVA SUL CONTRIBUTO DEI MILITARI ITALIANI AL CONTROLLO DEI FLUSSI MIGRATORI NEL MEDITERRANEO E L'IMPATTO DELLE ATTIVITA' DELLE ORGANIZZAZIONI NON GOVERNATIVE (Doc. XVII, n. 9) | date=16 May 2017 | access-date=26 July 2017 | archive-date=25 June 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625094123/http://www.senato.it/japp/bgt/showdoc/frame.jsp?tipodoc=SommComm&leg=17&id=1022634 | url-status=live }} Regardless of this, right-wing newspapers have continued campaigning against Italian and foreign NGOs.

File:Aquarius-Karte prov.jpg in June 2018, which was refused to dock in Malta and Italy before being granted access by the recently installed left-wing government in Spain.{{cite news |title=Aquarius in Valencia: Spain welcomes migrants from disputed ship |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-44510002 |access-date=21 May 2020 |publisher=BBC News |date=17 June 2018 |archive-date=23 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623030826/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-44510002 |url-status=live }}]]

In August 2017 the ship "Iuventa" operated by the German NGO "Jugend Rettet" (youth to the rescue) was impounded on the island of Lampedusa on the order of an Italian prosecutor on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration. Jugend Rettet is one of the six out of nine NGOs which refused to sign a new code of conduct by the Italian government covering migrant rescues in the Mediterranean. The prosecutor alleged that there were "contacts, meetings and understandings" between the boat's crew and the smugglers. No crew members from the "Iuventa" had been charged and the prosecutor admitted that their motive was likely humanitarian.{{cite news|url=http://www.dw.com/en/italy-impounds-german-ngo-migrant-rescue-ship-lawmakers-boost-support-for-libyan-coastguard/a-39940881|work=DW|title=Italy impounds German NGO migrant rescue ship, lawmakers boost support for Libyan coastguard|date=2 August 2017|access-date=5 August 2017|archive-date=6 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806030744/http://www.dw.com/en/italy-impounds-german-ngo-migrant-rescue-ship-lawmakers-boost-support-for-libyan-coastguard/a-39940881|url-status=live}} (Five out of eight refused to sign the new code of conduct, according to a Guardian article, the others refusing to sign being MSF, the Germany groups Sea-Watch, Sea-Eye and Jugend Rettet, and France's SOS Mediterranée '[all of whom] abstained'. 'MSF, SOS Mediterranée and Jugend Rettet... called for clarification of the rules' while MOAS and Spanish group Proactiva Open Arms agreed to the conditions, and Save the Children 'backed the measures'.)[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/31/aid-groups-snub-italian-code-conduct-mediterranean-rescues Reuters in Rome, 31 July 2017 "Aid groups snub Italian code of conduct on Mediterranean rescues: Five of eight groups operating migrant rescue ships refuse to agree to new measures, citing concerns over operational effectiveness and neutrality" at theguardian.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906163308/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/31/aid-groups-snub-italian-code-conduct-mediterranean-rescues |date=6 September 2017 }} Accessed 24 October 2017

The Conte I Cabinet, influenced by hard-line Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, refused to let migrant ships dock in its waters. On 10 June 2018, Salvini announced the closure of Italian ports, stating that "Everyone in Europe is doing their own business, now Italy is also raising its head. Let's stop the business of illegal immigration."{{Cite web|url=http://www.lastampa.it/2018/06/11/italia/migranti-litalia-sfida-malta-salvini-chiudiamo-i-porti-bVoFCfoAr11187cT5qJ4rL/pagina.html|title=Migranti, l'Italia sfida Malta. Salvini: chiudiamo i porti|website=LaStampa.it|date=11 June 2018|access-date=31 May 2022|archive-date=2 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402014651/https://www.lastampa.it/2018/06/11/italia/migranti-litalia-sfida-malta-salvini-chiudiamo-i-porti-bVoFCfoAr11187cT5qJ4rL/pagina.html|url-status=live}} The vessel Aquarius, which is operated jointly by Médecins Sans Frontières and SOS Méditerranée and carried more than 600 migrants, was refused a port of disembarkation by the Italian authorities despite having been told to rescue the migrants by the same co-ordination centre. The Italian authority told the vessel to ask Malta to provide a disembarkation port, but Malta has also refused.{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/italy-shuts-ports-to-rescue-ship-carrying-over-600-migrants-11401125|title=Malta and Spain offer safe port to stranded migrant ship|website=Sky News|access-date=31 May 2022|archive-date=23 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723093832/https://news.sky.com/story/italy-shuts-ports-to-rescue-ship-carrying-over-600-migrants-11401125|url-status=live}} On the following day, the new Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accepted the disputed migrant ship.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44441386|title=Spain to accept disputed migrant ship|date=12 June 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=31 May 2022|archive-date=21 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821053624/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44441386|url-status=live}} On 12 June 2019, the Sea Watch 3 ship picked up 53 migrants in the Mediterranean off the Libyan coast. Sea Watch 3 rejected an offer to dock at Tripoli, which is considered unsafe by humanitarian organizations, and headed toward Lampedusa. According to a report by the Süddeutsche Zeitung and NGOs this was the nearest safe harbor per maritime law. On 14 June, Italy closed its ports to migrant rescue ships. Salvini refused to allow the ship to dock until other European nations had agreed to take the migrants. Ten of the migrants, including children, pregnant women, and those who were ill, were allowed to disembark. On 29 June, without authorization, ship's captain Carola Rackete decided to dock. The motivation for this was that according to her the passengers were exhausted. Rackete was arrested by the Italian authorities after docking. Matteo Salvini accused Rackete of trying to sink an Italian patrol boat that was attempting to intercept her, calling the incident an act of war and demanding the Netherlands government intervention. However, on 2 July, Rackete was released from house arrest after a court ruling that she had broken no laws and acted to protect passengers' safety.{{cite web |title=Sea Watch captain Carola Rackete released, but controversy rages on |url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/07/03/sea-watch-captain-carola-rackete-released-but-controversy-rages-on |website=EuroNews |date=3 July 2019 |access-date=4 July 2019 |archive-date=10 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710174156/https://www.euronews.com/2019/07/03/sea-watch-captain-carola-rackete-released-but-controversy-rages-on |url-status=live }}

In August 2019, Salvini announced a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Conte, after growing tensions within the majority.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/articoli/Salvini-Subito-in-Aula-poi-le-elezioni-Conte-Dovra-spiegare-le-ragioni-della-crisi-648408f5-df6c-49f8-bf6d-a73532bd60ab.html|title=La Lega presenta al Senato una mozione di sfiducia a Conte. M5S attacca Salvini: "Giullare"|website=rainews|date=9 August 2019 |access-date=31 May 2022|archive-date=20 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820183327/http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/articoli/Salvini-Subito-in-Aula-poi-le-elezioni-Conte-Dovra-spiegare-le-ragioni-della-crisi-648408f5-df6c-49f8-bf6d-a73532bd60ab.html|url-status=live}} Salvini's alleged gambit failed, as Conte successfully negotiated the formation of a new cabinet with centre-left Democratic Party, which completely changed the immigration policy of the previous government,{{cite web|url=https://pagellapolitica.it/articoli/migranti-tutta-la-disinformazione-politica-del-2020|title=Migranti: tutta la disinformazione politica del 2020|access-date=31 May 2022|language=it|archive-date=25 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625230858/https://pagellapolitica.it/articoli/migranti-tutta-la-disinformazione-politica-del-2020|url-status=live}} returning to receive NGO ships in Italian ports.{{cite web|url=https://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/leuropa-gi-volta-spalle-conte-sui-migranti-1753870.html|title=L'Europa già volta le spalle a Conte sui migranti|date=16 September 2019|access-date=31 May 2022|language=it|archive-date=31 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531174359/https://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/leuropa-gi-volta-spalle-conte-sui-migranti-1753870.html|url-status=live}}

On 2 August 2017, Italy's parliament authorized a limited naval mission to Libyan waters aimed at supporting the country's coastguard in the fight against illegal migration. Italy sent two patrol boats at the request of the UN-backed government in Tripoli and insisted it had no intention of violating Libyan sovereignty. However, General Khalifa Haftar, who controls most of eastern Libya, threatened to use his own forces to repel the Italians.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/03/libyan-military-strongman-threatens-italian-ships-trying-stop/|work=The Telegraph|title=Libyan military strongman threatens Italian ships trying to stop flow of migrants|date=3 August 2017|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201193703/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/03/libyan-military-strongman-threatens-italian-ships-trying-stop/|url-status=live}}

According to Eurostat 59.9 million people lived in the European Union in 2023 who were born outside their resident country. This corresponds to 13.35% of the total EU population. Of these, 31.4 million (9.44%) were born outside the EU and 17.5 million (3.91%) were born in another EU member state.{{Cite web |title=Population on 1 January by age group, sex and country of birth |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/migr_pop3ctb__custom_12073365/default/table?lang=en |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=ec.europa.eu}}{{Cite web |title=Population on 1 January by age, sex and group of country of birth |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/migr_pop4ctb__custom_12073348/default/table?lang=en |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=ec.europa.eu}}

{{Portal|Italy}}

• Immigration detention in Italy
• 2015 Mediterranean migration crisis
• List of countries by foreign-born population
• Movies about immigration to Italy
• Lampedusa immigrant reception center

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{{reflist|30em}}

• Cusumano, Eugenio, and Kristof Gombeer. "In deep waters: The legal, humanitarian and political implications of closing Italian ports to migrant rescuers." Mediterranean Politics 25.2 (2020): 245–253. [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13629395.2018.1532145?needAccess=true& online]

{{Immigration to Italy}}

{{Immigration to Europe}}

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{{European migrant crisis}}

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Category:Demographics of Italy