Foreign Affairs

Italian Politician Says Sending Back Illegal Immigrants Is A Top Priority

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An Italian politician said on Friday that sending back illegal immigrants is one of his top priorities for the country.

Matteo Salvini, the new interior minister from the Lega Nord party, said he vowed to tackle illegal immigration into Italy with a determined approach to “send them home,” The Guardian reported. Salvini previously promised to deport 500,000 illegal immigrants during his campaign. He also suggested that places where migrants are held should instead be used as detention centers.

Salvini said an open-door policy will be in place for productive, law-abiding immigrants, but people who create issues in the country will get a one-way return ticket back, Libero Quotidiano reported.

Salvini previously spoke out against Muslim immigration to Italy during a January interview with on Tgcom24, saying “Today’s Islam is a danger. I don’t want it.” The politician also suggested arming Italian borders to quell illegal immigration and also vowed to stop an “irregular or abusive Islamic presence in Italy” during the interview, Il Giornale reported.