1st April 2025 – Rome, Italy – The Italian government’s latest move to address immigration through its deal with Albania could backfire, with concerns over replicating the same issues that have plagued detention centers within Italy. After constructing immigration facilities in Albania that remain underused, Italy has decided to repurpose one of these sites into an offshore detention center. However, this decision could exacerbate existing problems related to detention and deportation procedures, rather than resolve them.
The facility in Gjader, Albania, was originally built as part of the 2023 agreement between Italy and Albania to handle adult male asylum seekers intercepted or rescued by Italian ships at sea. Under the agreement, individuals from countries deemed “safe” by Italy would be disembarked directly in Albania and subjected to a fast-track asylum process, assuming they would not require protection. However, Italy’s courts have ruled that it is unlawful to detain these individuals under the presumption that they come from “safe” countries, forcing the Italian government to bring those affected back to Italy.
As a result, the Gjader facility, which was part of a broader 800 million euro investment, remains largely empty. In response, the Italian government issued a decree on March 28 that allows the facility to house undocumented migrants currently in Italy who are awaiting deportation. These individuals would be detained pending their removal from the country.
Italy already operates 10 detention centers where migrants can be held for up to 18 months while the government attempts to deport them. However, the deportation process has been largely ineffective, with only 10% of deportation orders being enforced in 2023. A 2021 report criticized these centers as “black holes,” and a 2024 study labeled the system as both costly and inhumane.
The decision to open a detention center in Albania raises concerns about replicating these same issues in a new location, while also introducing new risks. One key concern is the potential obstruction of legal aid, which could hinder accountability if credible abuse claims arise. Additionally, there is little evidence to suggest that such offshore facilities would make it easier to deport individuals, as the main obstacle to deportations remains the unwillingness of receiving countries to accept returnees.
This development follows the European Commission’s endorsement of “return hubs” outside the European Union in its recent proposal for a Returns Regulation. Critics argue that attempts to offload migration responsibilities to third countries, out of sight from the public eye, are both cruel and unrealistic.
Instead of pursuing costly and controversial deals to evade responsibility, experts argue that Italy and the European Union should invest in more humane and rational solutions for managing migration—focusing on fairness, accountability, and long-term integration, rather than offshoring the problem.
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