Italian Government's Controversial Plan to Pay Lawyers for Migrant Repatriation
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's far-right government is set to introduce a highly contentious voluntary repatriation scheme that has drawn sharp criticism from legal professionals and political opponents. The proposal, included in a new security bill, would offer financial bonuses to lawyers who successfully persuade their immigrant clients to return to their countries of origin.
Details of the Bonus Scheme and Funding
The incentive program has been allocated €246,000 for the current year, with plans to nearly double the funding in 2027 and 2028. While the exact bonus amount per case is not specified in the bill, estimates from the Italian press suggest it could be around €615 per successful repatriation. Lawyers would only receive payment once the individual has physically left Italy.
This measure is part of a broader security decree that also includes provisions to remove access to state-funded legal aid for those challenging deportation orders. The bill has already passed the upper house of parliament after heated debates and is now awaiting final approval in the lower house this week.
Legal and Political Backlash
The proposal has ignited fierce opposition from Italy's legal community. The national bar council issued a statement expressing dismay that they were never consulted about the measure and have called on parliament to reject it. The Union of Italian Criminal Lawyers (UCPI) declared the scheme "incompatible" with the Italian constitution, arguing that lawyers must maintain independence and not be financially incentivized to achieve state-desired outcomes.
Opposition parties have been equally vocal in their condemnation. Riccardo Magi, leader of the left-wing Più Europa party, likened the bonuses to "wild west-style bounties" that trample on rights and compromise legal integrity. He drew parallels to aggressive immigration enforcement tactics in the United States, describing the decree as "one step away from Trump's ICE."
Broader Immigration Crackdown Context
This move comes just one month after Meloni's government suffered a significant defeat in a referendum on judicial reform. It represents the latest effort by her ruling coalition to intensify measures against irregular immigration. Earlier this year, the government approved legislation authorizing naval blockades to prevent migrant boats from reaching Italian shores during periods of high migration pressure.
Debora Serracchiani of the Democratic Party condemned the bonus scheme as "disgraceful" and damaging to professional dignity, while Valentina D'Orso of the Five Star Movement accused the government of exploiting lawyers to advance its immigration agenda. The magistrates' union ANM warned that such financial incentives risk undermining judicial protection and the rule of law.
