SHNGJIN: The first undocumented migrants sent by Italy to Albania under a controversial deal that is being closely watched in Europe arrived on Wednesday in the port of Shengjin.

The 16 men from Bangladesh and Egypt disembarked from an Italian navy vessel three days after they were intercepted in the Mediterranean.

The men were escorted in small groups to the gates of a new processing centre where their asylum requests will be handled.

Italy’s far-right Prime Minister Georgia Meloni vowed to cut migrant numbers when she took office in 2022. Italy has also criticised the European Union’s response to undocumented migrants and EU leaders were to discuss the offshore processing centres at a summit this week. Amnesty International has, however, called the centres a “cruel experiment (that) is a stain on the Italian government”.

Italy will run two centres in Albania surrounded by high walls and security cameras, one in Shengjin and the other in Gjader, 20 kilometres away. The centres will be operated under Italian law, with Italian security and staff, with judges hearing asylum request cases by video from Rome.

More than 300 Italian soldiers, doctors and judges are involved in the operation, according to Italian diplomats. Migrants will be registered and undergo health checks in Shengjin before being transferred to the Gjader centre where they will be housed in 12 square metre temporary cabins. Cells have been set up for applicants whose asylum requests are refused.

On Wednesday, several civil rights activists gathered near the centre in Shengjin carrying a large banner that read in English: “The European Dream Ends Here.” They also held photos of Meloni and her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama dressed as police officers.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2024