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| Italy adopts law to curb migrants | Italy adopts law to curb migrants |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Italy's parliament has given final approval to a law criminalising illegal immigration and allowing citizens' patrols to help the police keep order. | Italy's parliament has given final approval to a law criminalising illegal immigration and allowing citizens' patrols to help the police keep order. |
| The new measures have been strongly criticised by human rights groups and the Vatican. | The new measures have been strongly criticised by human rights groups and the Vatican. |
| Illegal immigration will be punishable by a hefty fine and those who knowingly house illegal migrants will face up to three years in prison. | Illegal immigration will be punishable by a hefty fine and those who knowingly house illegal migrants will face up to three years in prison. |
| The law also extends detention periods for illegal migrants to six months. | The law also extends detention periods for illegal migrants to six months. |
| It was passed in the Senate (upper house) on Thursday, with 157 in favour and 124 against. The lower house passed it in May. | It was passed in the Senate (upper house) on Thursday, with 157 in favour and 124 against. The lower house passed it in May. |
| Citizens' patrols | Citizens' patrols |
| The unarmed citizens' patrols are among the most controversial measures. | The unarmed citizens' patrols are among the most controversial measures. |
| FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| A right-wing uniformed group called the Italian National Guard was set up last month, likened by some to Benito Mussolini's Fascists. It vowed to start patrolling the streets. | A right-wing uniformed group called the Italian National Guard was set up last month, likened by some to Benito Mussolini's Fascists. It vowed to start patrolling the streets. |
| But Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said the group, which sports beige uniforms and black military-style hats, would not be allowed to mount street patrols. | But Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said the group, which sports beige uniforms and black military-style hats, would not be allowed to mount street patrols. |
| Mr Maroni, a member of the anti-immigration Northern League, has steered the legislation through parliament. | Mr Maroni, a member of the anti-immigration Northern League, has steered the legislation through parliament. |
| The party is a key ally of Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and made tougher measures against immigration a condition of its support for his re-election last year. | The party is a key ally of Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and made tougher measures against immigration a condition of its support for his re-election last year. |
| The new law makes illegal immigration punishable by a fine of 5,000 to 10,000 euros (£4,276 - £8,553). | The new law makes illegal immigration punishable by a fine of 5,000 to 10,000 euros (£4,276 - £8,553). |
| It also requires parents registering a birth to present documents proving that they are legal residents. | It also requires parents registering a birth to present documents proving that they are legal residents. |
| Opposition senators held signs calling the government "the real clandestines" | Opposition senators held signs calling the government "the real clandestines" |
| Italy has just introduced a policy of returning boatloads of migrants to Libya before they can claim asylum. | Italy has just introduced a policy of returning boatloads of migrants to Libya before they can claim asylum. |
| The government says it faces an unmanageable flood of immigrants, many arriving on outlying islands which do not have the means to cope. | The government says it faces an unmanageable flood of immigrants, many arriving on outlying islands which do not have the means to cope. |
| More than 36,000 migrants landed on the shores of Italy last year - an increase of about 75% on the year before. | More than 36,000 migrants landed on the shores of Italy last year - an increase of about 75% on the year before. |
| Critics say the government is targeting especially immigrants and Roma (Gypsies). | Critics say the government is targeting especially immigrants and Roma (Gypsies). |
| The Vatican said the new law was "focusing on crime and leaving integration completely out of the picture". | The Vatican said the new law was "focusing on crime and leaving integration completely out of the picture". |