Italy’s government said today that illegal immigration has fallen 82% since 2023 and 55% compared to 2015, rejecting criticism from the Spanish executive, which pointed to Lampedusa as an example of the difficulties in managing migration flows.
In a statement, Italy’s Interior Ministry attributed the drop in arrivals to policies implemented under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, saying that since January of this year, arrivals of irregular migrants have collapsed, a result achieved precisely because of Meloni’s government policies.
Without directly naming Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, the statement came just hours after Spain’s top diplomat said in a television interview that some European governments had failed to adequately respond to the migration crisis in Ceuta, singling out Italy as the country facing the greatest migratory pressure. Albares said that year after year, Italy remains bogged down in Lampedusa and unable to resolve the situation.
In response, Italy’s Interior Ministry said the current government had to deal with a situation inherited from previous administrations that was completely out of control, and stressed that irregular immigration has fallen 82% compared to 2023, the first year of Meloni’s government.
Read more about this topic: Spain: Hundreds of illegals still remain in Ceuta and don’t want to return
The ministry also rejected the notion that there is currently an emergency in Lampedusa, noting that only 98 migrants are currently on the island and that there hasn’t been any emergency situation there for some time.
According to official Italian data, 16,479 migrants arrived on Italian shores between January 1 and July 31, compared to 36,545 recorded during the same period in 2016.
Following the migration crisis in Ceuta, Italy temporarily suspended application of the Schengen Agreement on routes with Spain on Friday, introducing checks at ports and airports for travelers arriving from the neighboring country. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni justified the decision on national security grounds, describing the measure as extraordinary.
