ROME — A new legislative proposal introduced Wednesday by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party would fast-track the removal of foreign nationals convicted of crimes and expand the government’s ability to strip them of Italian citizenship.
Under the draft bill, any non-EU citizen sentenced to more than one year behind bars would be sent back to their home country, whether or not they agree to go. Party members unveiled the measure at a parliamentary press conference.
The deportations would be carried out through bilateral agreements that Italy would negotiate with the offenders’ home nations. Those facing removal would have very few options to fight deportation — limited mainly to cases where they could face inhumane treatment or the death penalty upon return. Anyone sent back under the program would be permanently banned from re-entering Italy.
Brothers of Italy lawmaker Sara Kelany said the bill would also widen the list of crimes that could result in the loss of Italian citizenship for those born outside the country.
Separately, Italy’s parliament is already debating a related measure put forward by coalition partner the League, which would tighten the rules around obtaining citizenship and make it easier to strip people of Italian nationality.
Both Brothers of Italy and the League are facing electoral pressure heading into next year’s parliamentary vote. An emerging far-right anti-immigration movement called Futuro Nazionale is gaining traction in polls, reportedly pulling support away from both established parties.
