Immigration

In the mid-nineties there were just over 500 thousand regular immigrants in Italy; about 10 years ago there were almost a million and a half. Since then rates have been growing more rapidly and the number of regular immigrants is now approximately 4 million, plus, presumably, one million irregulars. Is Italian society sufficiently informed and equipped to cope with the processes of change set in motion (and due to continue on a global scale) in this phase of international migration?

Our delay in addressing these questions has had very serious consequences : 1) the risk of immigration being generally perceived as a “crime issue”, 2) the introduction of repressive laws that can lead to reversals in rights and guarantees, 3) the rejection, or undervaluation, of the presence of foreigners as a positive resource and development factor. Two aspects of this are worth noting: the classification of irregular immigration as a criminal offence and of "the intent to commit illegal immigration" as an aggravating circumstance (since declared unconstitutional), has had the effect of striking not so much at criminal behaviour but rather at the condition of merely being an unauthorised migrant or refugee.

Yet another factor to be considered is the number people of foreign origin born and raised in Italy still having difficulty in getting their Italian citizenship recognised.
Drawing attention to these critical situations and proposing legislative solutions designed to overcome them is of importance not only to the people directly concerned, but also to the whole of society.