Italian PM Hailed as Illegal Migration Drops by 64 Per Cent over Last Year

Dividends have begun to pay off for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s migration strategy as figures have shown a near-two-thirds reduction of illegal arrivals over last year.

Statistics released this week by the Italian Interior Ministry showed that 41,530 illegal immigrants landed on the country’s coasts since the start of the year.

While still historically high, the figure represents a 64 per cent decline over the same period last year, when 114,513 were recorded reaching Italian beaches amid a massive wave of illegals pouring across the Mediterranean from North Africa, particularly Tunisia. The figures also show a drop compared to 2022 when illegal migration was still hampered by the coronavirus.

There has also been a marked difference in the number of unaccompanied minor arrivals, with 5,044 recorded so far this year, compared to 18,820 in 2023.

Meloni has faced criticism at home and abroad for failing to implement a hardline approach to illegal migration, having campaigned on a naval blockade in the Mediterranean but instead choosing to opt for diplomatic solutions through Brussels mechanisms, working closely with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen to negotiate deals with countries like Tunisia and Egypt to crack down on people smuggling networks in exchange for European aid.

Deals with Tunisia and Libya have also been paying off in the repatriation of illegals, with 5,000 already being sent back to Libya this year and 4,000 being sent back to Tunisia since January.

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Meloni’s government has also sought to strengthen laws at home, including increased penalties for people smugglers and migrant boat captains, restricting the right to work for some asylum seekers, and a crackdown on pro-open borders NGOs, whom the government accuses of aiding people smugglers transport migrants to Europe.

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