Peoples' Court To Be Held in Palermo. The Accusation: Crimes Against Migrants By the Italian Government and the EU

Press release - We understand that the Minister of the Interior, Marco Minniti, has been invited to a celebration in Palermo organised by the newspaper La Repubblica, in order to discuss migration and reception. This all while a vast number of men, women and children are tortured and left to die in Libyan prisons, left to down in the Mediterranean or finally reach Italian shores but without life in their bodies.

Borderline Sicilia On Board the Sea Watch 3: The Intervention of the Libyan Coast Guard Brings Death and Refoulment

Press release – The landing operation of the Sea Watch 3 at the port of Pozzallo came to a close this morning at midday. Police, carabinieri, Frontex and EASO agents were waiting on the quayside, as well as staff from the main governmental organisations and NGOs active in Sicily. There were also workers and legal assistants from Borderline Sicily.

The Sea Watch 3 docks in at Pozzallo. Photo: Viola Gastaldi

Reports of a serious law infringement in the Hotspot of Lampedusa

Press release – Despite the sentence of the European Court of Human Rights on the Khlaifia case, arbitrary detentions, mass expulsions and the negation of the right to asylum continue to happen. Mister M. has been on a hunger strike for 4 days. With him, around 200 fellow Tunisians locked up in the Hotspot centre of Lampedusa are refusing to eat until they are granted their rights. One of his companions has been hospitalised a few hours ago. They are being detained without legal validation and they have not met anyone who could explain to them the procedure for a possible asylum request.

Libyan coastguard attacks Sea-Watch during rescue operation, causing deaths

We learn of an attack by the Libyan coastguard on a dinghy loaded with migrants during a rescue operation by the crew of the Sea-Watch 2. The following is their press release.

Press release: A Country's Humanity Can Be Seen in the Smallest of Things. But Also the Big Ones.

It seems that the postal workers, when collaborating with the Ministry of the Interior in relation to the “envelope” containing news of foreign nationals' leave to remain, see themselves as sheriffs. The directors of the local post office branches, again in virtue of this agreement, see themselves in turn as members of the government, with delegated powers relating to immigration.

The factory of irregular migrants, improperly called clandestine - Press release

Borderline Sicilia expresses deep concern regarding the continuation of illicit practices at the expense of asylum seekers. From the end of September until today we have denounced on various occasions the hundreds of refoulments of migrants rescued at sea.[1] The last incidence that we heard of is of fifteen people (but they could be more) from Pakistan and Mali. We met them yesterday in front of the police station of Palermo and they told us that they arrived at Lampedusa on November 5, after being rescued at sea with more than other 500 persons.

Agrigento: Deportation of asylum seekers – press release

Borderline Sicilia expresses concerns over the fate of approximately ten asylum seekers whose asylum applications were declined by officials in Agrigento last week. A deportation order was also issued against them. 

Apparently, these deportation orders, which were issued after a hearing of the asylum seekers, were unfounded. Rather, they are based upon a recent decision to enforce two guidelines that came into effect on September, 30^th.

Messina. The minors have been transferred from the gym of Gravitelli

It is with pleasure when the association Borderline Sicilia learned about the transfer of 58 minors from the gym of Gravitelli where they were located, towards two reception facilities – also considering the fact that the flooding on the night of October 14, had further worsened the already bad living conditions in the building, showing even more its complete inadequacy for hosting people, especially minors.