The plight of migrants and stateless individuals has gained renewed attention recently, underscoring the challenges they face within Italy. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Italy has taken significant steps toward protecting stateless people, but gaps remain, especially as many continue to suffer from inadequate rights and recognition.
On February 27, 2025, the UNHCR launched its report titled "Mapping Statelessness in Italy," which estimates at least 3,000 people are stateless or at risk of becoming stateless. This alarming figure includes vulnerable groups like Roma communities from the former Yugoslavia, Cubans, Tibetans from China, and Palestinians. According to Chiara Cardoletti, UNHCR’s Representative for Italy, "Stateless people are among the most vulnerable in the world. They lack fundamental rights and often remain invisible to authorities. This study highlights areas needing attention. While Italy has made significant progress, continued efforts are required to assure all stateless individuals can exercise their rights."
Italy has been at the forefront of protecting stateless individuals since the 1950s, when it ratified the 1954 Geneva Convention on stateless persons and has since adopted various policies to support this vulnerable population. This includes improving data collection and establishing comprehensive legal frameworks to recognize and protect stateless individuals. Recent efforts even involved the signing of technical cooperation agreements with the UNHCR to bolster these protective measures.
Despite these efforts, the UNHCR’s report points out the need for legal reform to more effectively address the status of stateless people. Specific recommendations urge Italy to improve data collection on stateless populations, train officials to reduce discrimination, and implement safeguards to prevent statelessness. These steps aim to align Italy’s practices with international standards.
Alongside the issue of statelessness, trafficking remains another significant challenge for migrants. The complex nature of migrant smuggling networks has led Italy to arrest several key players involved. A prominent case involves Ghebremedin Temeschen Ghebru, who was arrested at Addis Ababa International Airport and extradited to Italy on charges of being part of a migrant smuggling network after allegedly functioning as a "hawaladar," or intermediary for financial transactions related to trafficking.
Ghebru's trial at the Court of Assize in Catania began earlier this year, drawing attention because it is linked to the broader "Glauco" operations initiated after the tragic deaths of hundreds of migrants off the coast of Lampedusa back in 2013. The Glauco investigations have uncovered extensive networks linking traffickers across Eritrea, Libya, and Europe. These operations highlight the grim reality of how deeply entrenched and organized migration trafficking has become, and how it continues to exploit vulnerable lives.
Defending Ghebru, lawyer Michele Calantropo stated, "He is not guilty of all crimes," indicating the defense's position is based on factual discrepancies surrounding Ghebru's actual involvement. The murky waters of evidence collection and the nature of trafficking complicate the legal proceedings, showing how the system sometimes fails to distinguish between victims and those accused of trafficking.
Legal scholars have critiqued Italy's approach to prosecuting migrant trafficking cases, positing it tends to criminalize lower-level operatives rather than dismantling higher echelons of organized crime. Professor Stefano Zirulia from the University of Milan remarked, "The more important traffickers are not targeted... the authorities apply Italian laws, which are very strict and can be applied even to individuals who have done little to nothing." This tendency to pursue easier cases allows larger networks to persist without accountability.
While Italy struggles with its stringent sentencing for migrant smuggling and trafficking, the legal framework often fails to provide a reasonable approach to differentiates between trafficking and humanitarian aid. Activists point out the humanitarian aspect of these situations, arguing many accused of smuggling view their actions as extensions of cultural solidarity. Giuseppina Massaiu, defending several accused smugglers, claimed, "Many of them have acted out of solidarity toward relatives or acquaintances." This reinforces the need for policies to distinguish between criminal actions and humanitarian efforts.
The intersection of accountability and the justice system reflects systemic challenges, such as Italy's complicated relationship with Libya. The cooperation agreements between Italy and Libya concerning migrant control have made arrests difficult. Legal experts like Maria Crippa have highlighted the lack of political will to address crimes committed by Libyan nationals, effectively placing the burden on lower-level operatives within Italy’s jurisdiction.
The recent arrest and quick release of Osama Najim, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against migrants, are emblematic of the struggles faced by Italian authorities. It showcased the complex web of international relations where Italian interests may override just responses to unaddressed crimes. According to Shatz, legal director of Front-Lex, “These policies feed the business of rape, torture, extortion and ransom” faced by migrants, highlighting the moral responsibility of Italian and European authorities toward the vulnerable populations under their jurisdiction.
While the legal environment for migrants and stateless individuals in Italy demonstrates progress and intent, both the humanitarian and legal angles reveal the need for greater reform. Comprehensive strategies addressing trafficking, the protection of rights, and accountability will be key to resolving the myriad challenges faced by migrants fleeing desperate situations.