Italy: Parliament votes to make illegal migration a crime
May 13, 2009
Italy's lower chamber of parliament passed a hotly debated bill Wednesday making it a crime to enter or stay in Italy illegally - the latest effort by Premier Silvio Berlusconi's conservative forces to crack down on illegal migration.
To ensure swift passage, Berlusconi's allies put the legislation to a confidence vote, which they easily won 316-258. Confidence votes force lawmakers to close ranks since any defeat would force the government's resignation.
The legislation makes entering or staying in Italy without permission a crime punishable by a fine of euro5,000-euro10,000 ($6,840-$13,670). Migrants would not face prison, but the bill provides for up to three years in prison for anyone who rents housing to an illegal immigrant.
The Associated Press
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