Italy’s Migrant Detention Centers Under Fire After Inmate’s Death

 

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The death last month of 19-year-old Ousmane Sylla, a Guinean detainee at Rome’s Ponte Galeria migrant repatriation center, has reignited calls to close the notorious facility. Sylla allegedly hanged himself while awaiting deportation, sparking riots and protests by fellow detainees over the inhumane conditions.

Senators who recently visited the center described conditions worse than prison, with undignified living quarters and no rehabilitation or education programs. Originally intended temporarily, the center has become a de facto prison lacking proper resources. Rights Groups Decry ‘Black Holes’ of Violations

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Human rights groups have long criticized Italy’s 10 migrant repatriation centers as “black holes” for human rights violations. Detainees are held for months without charge in often worse conditions than prison due to bureaucratic delays and lack of repatriation agreements with countries of origin.

The Radical Roma association has launched a petition urging Rome’s mayor to close Ponte Galeria, citing repetitive violence, suicide attempts, and protests by desperate detainees. Even Italy’s national prisoners’ rights guarantor has denounced the center’s lack of monitoring and basic rights protections.

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Government Defends Hardline Stance on Migration
Despite mounting criticism, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government has defended repatriation centers, even calling for expansion as part of a broader strategy to deter irregular migration.

The government extended the maximum detention period to 18 months, drawing condemnation from opposition parties and human rights advocates. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has described expanding the repatriation center network as “fundamental” to migration policy.

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Calls for Humanitarian Intervention
Senators urging immediate action described conditions as “unworthy of a civilized, democratic country,” calling for closure and a more humane migration approach.

Human rights groups and advocates have echoed these calls, demanding the government uphold detainees' basic rights and dignity regardless of immigration status. As debate continues, the plight of migrants in Italy’s repatriation centers remains a pressing unaddressed humanitarian issue.