In Shengjin, Albania, Italy sent 40 unsuccessful asylum seekers to be temporarily held until repatriation in empty, Italian-operated detention centers created for a halted migration deterrence program. Last year, Italy established two facilities in Albania with the intention of using them to review asylum requests from migrants rescued at sea, in the hopes of discouraging people from attempting to enter Italy. However, the program was suspended due to Italian courts repeatedly annulling the transfer of sea migrants, prompting the government to bring them to Italy for legal assessment. To address criticism from the opposition regarding the legal complexities, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s conservative coalition recently decided to use Albania as an intermediate stop for individuals whose asylum applications have been denied. The duration of the migrants’ stay in Albania remains uncertain. According to Italian law, unsuccessful asylum seekers can be detained for up to 18 months while awaiting deportation. The initial group of migrants, transported by a naval vessel from Brindisi to the Albanian port of Shengjin, did not have their details disclosed by Italian authorities. Italy faces challenges in repatriating illegal immigrants, with only about 4,000 individuals forcefully returned in 2023, a significantly lower number compared to France and Germany, as per official figures. Many others disregarded deportation orders, either blending into the Italian population or relocating to another European country. Originally, Meloni envisioned the two Albanian camps processing around 36,000 male asylum applicants yearly, primarily from safe countries, with the aim of swiftly repatriating them upon probable rejection of their requests. The government intends to return to its initial strategy pending a ruling from the European Union’s Court of Justice that might require Italian judges to review new asylum seekers sent to Albania.
