These measures come in response to a recent influx of almost 10,000 migrants to the southern Italian island of Lampedusa.
The situation has posed a challenge to Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who came to power with promises to address illegal immigration.
Prime Minister Meloni proposed that migrants awaiting repatriation should be detained for an initial six months, extendable to up to 18 months, a significant increase from the current three-month period.
This extension is intended to provide adequate time for assessments and facilitate the repatriation process for individuals who do not qualify for international protection.
To accommodate the extended detention period, the Italian government plans to establish additional detention centers in remote areas.
Prime Minister Meloni emphasized the necessity of increasing the capacity of these facilities, which she claims have been weakened by years of immigration-focused policies.
Under Italian law, migrants facing repatriation can be held if immediate expulsion is not possible. The majority of migrants arriving in Italy are believed to do so for economic reasons and do not qualify for asylum.
However, past efforts to detain migrants have had limited success, as many detained individuals have repeatedly escaped from detention centers, often making their way to wealthier northern European countries.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visit the port where migrants arrive on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy Prime Minister Meloni's recent visit to Lampedusa, accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, resulted in promises of a 10-point European Union action plan to address the situation.
However, these measures bear similarities to previous initiatives that have yielded limited results.
The Italian government's actions to curb the flow of migrants have faced criticism from the opposition and human rights groups.
The Italian Coalition for Civil Rights and Liberties (CILD) has described detention centers as "black holes" where fundamental rights violations occur, in addition to being expensive and inefficient.
Italy has been experiencing a significant migration crisis, with nearly 10,000 people landing on Lampedusa in just one week.
The country has witnessed a surge in arrivals, with over 127,000 refugees and migrants arriving in Italy so far this year, almost double the figure for the same period in the previous year.
These migrants originate from various countries, including Guinea, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Repatriation efforts are complicated by Italy's limited bilateral agreements with certain countries, leading to delays in returning individuals to their home countries.
According to the think-tank Openpolis, only 20 percent of those issued repatriation orders left Italy between 2014 and 2020.
France has expressed its intention to assist Italy in securing its borders and addressing the migrant crisis.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin emphasized the need to protect the EU's external border and promptly evaluate asylum requests, deporting individuals who do not qualify for asylum to their countries of origin.
The Italian government's latest measures aim to address the ongoing challenges posed by irregular migration, but their effectiveness remains a subject of debate and scrutiny.
In response to a surge in migrant arrivals, the Italian government has extended the detention period for migrants awaiting repatriation and plans to establish more detention centers in remote areas.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's efforts to curb illegal immigration come as Italy faces a significant migration crisis, with nearly 10,000 migrants arriving on the island of Lampedusa in a week.
However, these measures have drawn criticism from opposition parties and human rights groups, highlighting challenges in managing migration flows.
International cooperation and border security remain crucial as Italy grapples with the complex issue of irregular migration. The effectiveness of these measures will be closely monitored amid ongoing debates on migration policies.