In Italy the practice of immigration detention was normalized in 1998, with the Turco-Napolitano law, in an attempt to manage migration flows, reduce the number of irregular foreigners and increase repatriation rates. Since then, it has been used as one of the main tools for the expulsion of those without a regular residence permit. In 2018, the adoption of the so-called Salvini Decree further exacerbated its use, allowing for an increase in the capacity of detention centres and in the maximum number of days of detention, as well as the suspension of humanitarian protection. Contrary to what has been assumed by governments, these reforms have proven ineffective both in terms of repatriation and integration. We talked about it with Jerome Phelps, former Executive Director of the International Detention Coalition and former Director of Detention Action.
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