Salvini to LOCKDOWN Italy’s coasts in latest bid to stop illegal immigration
ITALY’s new eurosceptic government is bringing forward its anti-immigration policy with plans to lock down the country’s coasts in a bid to slash the number of illegal immigrants reaching the country, Matteo Salvini announced.
By ALICE SCARSI
Express.co.uk
Mon, Jun 18, 2018
Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini is setting out Italy’s new strategy to clamp down on illegal immigration.
The leader of rightwing party Lega warned the “good times are over” over the weekend as he vowed to stop two more migrant rescue charities from docking in Italian ports.
Salvini announced he is working with other Cabinet ministers on a strategy which will not only restrict the number of arrivals but will also diminish the presence of Italy’s ships in the Mediterranean.
He said: “We will have to take more care of our territory, therefore I will ask my colleagues of keeping our men and ships closer to our coasts.”
Mr Salvini, who was officially appointed deputy prime minister and interior minister on June 1, also said he plans to work closely to the Libyan government to make sure they will monitor their waters to prevent ships carrying illegal migrants from leaving.
He said: “I will soon go to Libya to confirm the friendship that ties the two countries and a financial collaboration to invest in streets, infrastructures and hospitals.
“But I will also go to reiterate the role of the Libyan Navy and Coast Guard, and I will later also speak to Egypt and Tunisia.”
This new clamp down on immigration comes after he refused to allow a non-for profit ship, Aquarius, carrying 629 illegal immigrants, to enter the country’s ports.
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