The European Union’s Immigration Policy and Italian Immigrants in Latin America

Laura E. Ruberto (June 30, 2008)
Invoking Italy’s history of emigration, activists and politicians in Latin America condemn the European Union’s latest anti-immigration stand.


Earlier this month, the European Parliament passed a controversial “Return Directive” immigration policy. The legislation is meant to give all EU countries a more balanced immigration policy, but in fact it opens the possibility for individual countries to adopt harsher practices toward undocumented immigrants (e.g., undocumented immigrants who do not voluntarily leave can be detained for up to 18 months, children can be detained and deported, a five-year “re-entry” ban will be implemented).

 

Nevertheless, turning back to the present moment, rhetorical strategies which call attention to Europe’s history of emigration in light of its position as a receiver of new immigrants helps build symbolic and (perhaps) real points of solidarity among people across national and cultural boundaries.

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