Italy to 'guarantee security of our borders' after bill approved allowing naval blockades

Legislation is latest step in crackdown by Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government on irregular migration

Rescued migrants stand in a boat of the Italian finance police before disembarking at the port of the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, southern Italy, in 2023. File picture: Cecilia Fabiano/AP

Italy’s prime minister says her government will deploy every tool at its disposal to “guarantee the security of our borders” after approving a bill authorising naval blockades to stop boats from arriving in Italy during periods of “exceptional pressure”.

The bill is the latest step in the crackdown on irregular immigration by Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government, which has included tough measures against charity rescue ships, harsher jail terms for human smugglers and schemes aimed at swiftly repatriating people.