ROME (AP) — One of eight migrants brought for processing at an Albanian center after being intercepted in international waters has returned to Italy after being deemed “vulnerable,” a delegation of Italian activists and lawmakers saying visited the center on Saturday.
The Egyptian man was diagnosed with “mental problems,” making it impossible for him to stay at the Gjadër shelter, one of the activists said. Currently, only seven migrants – five from Bangladesh and two from Egypt – remain in the Albanian center.
The group represented the second transfer of migrants since two processing centers started operating in October under an agreement between Italy and Albania. Human rights groups and non-governmental organizations active in the Mediterranean have labeled the agreement as a dangerous precedent that violates international law.
The agreement allows up to 3,000 migrants intercepted monthly by the Italian coast guard in international waters to be hosted in Albania and vetted for possible asylum in Italy or returned to their country.
Italy has agreed to welcome migrants who are granted asylum, while those whose applications are rejected will be deported directly from Albania.
The first group of sixteen migrants from Bangladesh and Egypt were transferred to Albania on October 16. Four were transferred to Italy the same day because they were minors or had health problems. Twelve others were returned to Italy three days later, after a ruling by judges in Rome rejected their detention because their country of origin was not safe enough for them to be returned.
The court ruling had shortened the list of countries considered “safe” by law, meaning Rome can repatriate migrants from countries that have not been granted asylum through an expedited procedure. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni denounced the decision, noting that deeming countries such as Bangladesh and Egypt unsafe meant that virtually all migrants would be excluded from the Albania program.
On October 21, Italy’s far-right government approved a new decree aimed at overcoming the legal hurdles that threatened to derail the controversial five-year migration treaty with Albania.
A decision by the judges in Rome on the detention of the seven migrants currently in Albania is expected on Monday.
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