Italy has sent 40 asylum seekers to detention centers in Albania.
Lawyers and rights organizations accusing Italy of undermining asylum rights are questioning the legality of this decision.
On Friday, Italy transferred 40 rejected asylum seekers to detention centers in Albania that it operates. This marks the first time a European Union member has relocated rejected asylum seekers to a third country instead of their country of origin or the region they transited through. According to local media, the group departed from the port city of Brindisi, but officials have not yet confirmed the migrants' nationalities or other details. The individuals in question are currently being held in two facilities built and operated by Italy in Shëngjin and Gjadër. These facilities were originally constructed to process asylum applications for migrants intercepted in the Mediterranean. However, since their activation in October, legal challenges have restricted the full use of the centers. In fact, some migrants were sent back to Italy after courts refused to approve their detention abroad. While it remains uncertain how long the migrants will stay in Albania, under Italian law, rejected asylum seekers can be held for up to 18 months for deportation. Concerns about legal and human rights issues have been raised as rights groups and lawyers condemned this move, expressing worries about its legality and potential to set a precedent. Meghan Benton from the Institute for Migration Policies stated, "They need to show that they are doing something with this incredibly expensive facility." Benton noted that other EU countries, including the Netherlands, are interested in similar arrangements with countries like Uganda. Francesco Ferri, a migration expert from ActionAid, who joined a delegation of NGOs and Italian lawmakers monitoring the transfers in Albania, said this move lacks a clear legal basis. Ferri stated that there is no provision in Italian law, EU legislation, or the Albania-Italy agreement allowing for the deportation of rejected asylum seekers in this manner. "This is unacceptable for us." Since the signing of a bilateral agreement worth 800 million euros in November 2023, the centers have remained largely idle due to pressure from human rights groups arguing that the agreement violates legal barriers and international law, endangering migrant rights. Under the five-year agreement, about 3,000 migrants intercepted by the Italian Coast Guard in international waters can be processed in Albania each month. Those granted asylum will be settled in Italy, while others face immediate deportation from Albanian territory.