Parliament approves tough immigration rules, bans illegal immigrants from marrying
Italian Parliament has approved the Security Law introducing some of the toughest rules affecting immigrants in the country.
In order to obtain the Permit of Stay (apart from the Permit of Stay for asylum), foreigners will have to pay a fee ranging between 80 and 200 Euros. They’ll also have to undersign the so-called integration agreement (accordo di integrazione) which introduces the Point based Permit of Stay. Points will be allocated to each Permit of Stay, which will either increase or decrease depending on the holder’s behaviour. Those who lose all the points will be expelled. This agreement obliges foreigners to respect Italian Constitution, and participate in the economic, social and cultural life of the country.
The new law introduces a 200 Euro tax for applying for Italian citizenship. Half of this money will go to the Immigrations Department at the Ministry of Home Affairs while the other half will finance Italy’s international cooperation programmes.
It increases from six months to two years (three years for those living abroad) the time after which foreigners married to Italian citizens can apply for citizenship. This will be reduced by half if the couple has children (natural or adopted).
Foreigners applying for the Permanent Resident Permit (Carta di soggiorno) will be expected to pass Italian language test. The new law introduces the offence of entering and staying illegally in the Italian territory. Those found guilty will not be punished by a prison sentence but by a fine ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 Euros, and expulsion.
The process of expelling illegal immigrants has been made easier since they can now be accompanied to the border even before the Judge confirms the arrest.
The new also prolongs from two to six months, the period of detaining illegal immigrants in identification and expulsion centres. The Justice of Peace would authorise further detention of immigrants who don’t collaborate with authorities in revealing their identity. It would also be possible to detain illegal immigrants for a longer period as authorities wait for necessary documents for expulsion.
A controversial rule which was previously contained in the Security Bill allowed medics to report to the authorities illegal immigrants who sought medical care in hospitals. Immigrant parents were also to be asked to show their Permit of Stay before enrolling their children to school. This rule disappeared from the final text of the Bill which was approved by the Senate.
It will however be obligatory for foreigners to present the Permit of Stay in order to have access to all other necessary services, including public services.
As a way of making life impossible for illegal immigrants, under the new measure, anyone who makes unjust profit by renting out an apartment to an illegal immigrant risks a prison sentence ranging from six months to three years. This will only be applied if the immigrant doesn’t have the Permit of Stay at the time of signing or renewing the rent contract. The apartment will also be confiscated and become a property of the State. The apartment will be auctioned and the money used to finance activities aimed at fighting against illegal immigration.
The Money Transfer operators will be obliged to make a photocopy of the Permit of Stay of those who make any transactions. They’ll also be obliged to report to the police those without the Permit of Stay. Those who fail to do this will lose their licence.
The new law makes it obligatory for foreigners who want to marry in Italy to show they have the Permit of Stay. This means that illegal immigrants will not be allowed to marry in the country.
The only consolation is that some weeks will have to pass before the law is published in the Official Gazette and become effective. New Decrees will also have to be published introducing the new fees for applying for Permits of Stay and Permanent Resident Permits. This will further prolong the time for introducing the new rules. For latest information, please keep on checking our website: www.theafricanews.com
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