Portrait of Giorgia Meloni
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Giorgia Meloni on Illegal Immigration Stance

Zero tolerance policy (strong)

Giorgia Meloni has consistently voiced strong opposition to illegal immigration, calling for a zero-tolerance policy to prevent undocumented migrants from reaching Italian shores.

As Prime Minister, she has implemented stricter policies in this area compared to previous administrations and has prioritized agreements with external nations, such as Tunisia, aimed at stopping irregular migration flows.

Meloni’s broader framework advocates for boosting the Italian birth rate to reduce the need for migrant labor while strongly opposing birthright citizenship proposals for foreigners born in Italy.

Timeline

  1. As a candidate, Meloni expressed support for a naval blockade as a method to halt illegal immigration.
  2. Complained about the danger of 'ethnic substitution' in a book co-authored, arguing that a project was underway to change the European ethnicity.
  3. During the election campaign, she reaffirmed her commitment to stopping illegal immigration through a naval blockade.
  4. Expressed sorrow over a migrant boat sinking, condemning the act of human traffickers who profit from migrants' lives.

Actions Taken

  1. Policy Implementation
    Implemented stricter policies in the first weeks after taking office regarding the fight against illegal immigration.
  2. Bilateral Agreement
    Traveled with Ursula von der Leyen to Tunisia to sign an agreement focusing on strengthening the economic partnership and the fight against irregular migration flows.
  3. Diplomatic Request
    Called for the European Commission to immediately accelerate the implementation of the agreement with Tunisia and transfer agreed resources following a major migrant arrival event on Lampedusa.

Key Quotes

No to mass migration, no to big international finance, no to the bureaucrats of Brussels.

Vox party congress speech January 1, 2021 — Stating her platform against mass migration at a Spanish far-right event.

It's time to call things by their name, to give refugee status to those fleeing war, women, and children, perhaps doing the opposite with those who aren't refugees.

Social Media Post September 1, 2022 — Distinguishing between war refugees and other asylum seekers following the Ukraine war.

Related Positions

  • Legal Immigration She explicitly states a preference for fighting illegal immigration in favor of establishing legal immigration channels.
  • Multiculturalism Meloni is considered opposed to multiculturalism as part of her restrictive immigration stance.
  • Africa Foreign Policy She links Africa's underdevelopment, a cause of migration, to neo-colonialism, particularly by France.

Criticism

Critics

Some critics have described Giorgia Meloni as xenophobic and Islamophobic based on her rhetoric concerning immigration and reception of non-European migrants.

Critics

Her rhetoric, including reposting a violent video concerning an asylum seeker in August 2022, drew significant backlash regarding the treatment of migrants.