Under a draft law, authorities will be given the power to house minors in adult facilities and carry out age tests on migrants who pretend to be under 18 in order to avoid deportation.
More than 130,000 migrants have arrived to Italy via boats from North Africa so far this year, up from 70,000 in the same period last year. / Photo: AP Archive
Under a draft law approved by ministers late on Wednesday, local authorities will be given the power to activate temporary housing structures for unaccompanied minors in the case of a surge of irregular refugees arrivals. That provision - yet to be approved by parliament - was"worrying," UNICEF Italy spokesperson Andrea Iacomini told AFP.Normally, unaccompanied minors, mothers with children or pregnant women are housed in local reception centres with social services aimed at integration, including language instruction and work training.
But the draft law seeks to crack down on young people who pretend to be under 18 in order to avoid deportation.
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