The recent reform of the Italian immigration policy produced a major impact on the health protection available to migrants against the COVID-19virus. In 2018, the Security Decree determined a deep transformation of the reception system and of the services provided to migrants. As aconsequence of these developments, migrants and asylum seekers are now among the most vulnerable subjects to the Coronavirus and receive onlylimited support from the State. Due to their status, undocumented migrants are generally forced to live in unhealthy and overcrowded spaces. Withoutthe required legal documents, these migrants experience a severe limitation in the healthcare services they can access. Over the last years, as a resultof restrictive migration policies, the number of undocumented migrants has significantly increased and has become a potential breeding ground forCOVID-19. This article analyses the repercussion of the Security Decree in relation to the outbreak of the Coronavirus. Successively, this workprovides an outline of the general situation faced by migrants in Italy and the institutional causes which might facilitate the spread of the Coronavirusin migrant communities. Finally, the regularization programme, as introduced by the Decreto Rilancio, will be the object of an early critical commentand of a discussion on its efficiency against the COVID-19 virus.
La recente riforma delle politiche d'immigrazione italiane ha prodotto un forte impatto sulla protezione della salute disponibile ai migranti contro ilvirus COVID-19. Nel 2018 il Decreto Sicurezza ha determinato una profonda trasformazione del sistema di accoglienza e dei servizi erogati aimigranti. Come conseguenza di questi sviluppi, migranti e richiedenti asilo adesso risultano tra i soggetti più vulnerabili al Coronavirus mentrericevono dallo Stato solamente un supporto limitato. A causa del proprio status, i migranti senza permesso di soggiorno regolare vivono generalmentein condizioni sovraffollate e malsane. Senza i necessari documenti legali, questi migranti vivono una forte limitazione nei servizi sanitari cui possonoaccedere. Durante gli ultimi anni, come risultato di queste politiche migratorie restrittive, il numero dei migranti senza permesso di soggiorno èaumentato notevolmente, creando un potenziale focolaio per il COVID-19. Questo articolo analizza le ripercussioni del Decreto Sicurezza inrelazione alla diffusione del Coronavirus. Successivamente, questo lavoro illustra la situazione generale dei migranti in Italia e gli atti istituzionali chepossono facilitare la diffusione del Coronavirus tra le comunità dei migranti. Infine, il programma di regolarizzazione introdotto tramite il DecretoRilancio sarà oggetto di un primo commento critico e di una discussione circa la sua efficienza nel contrasto del virus COVID-19.
Migration Policy and Health Insecurity: Italy's response to COVID-19 and the impact of the Security Decree
Carlotti Sebastian
2020-01-01
Abstract
The recent reform of the Italian immigration policy produced a major impact on the health protection available to migrants against the COVID-19virus. In 2018, the Security Decree determined a deep transformation of the reception system and of the services provided to migrants. As aconsequence of these developments, migrants and asylum seekers are now among the most vulnerable subjects to the Coronavirus and receive onlylimited support from the State. Due to their status, undocumented migrants are generally forced to live in unhealthy and overcrowded spaces. Withoutthe required legal documents, these migrants experience a severe limitation in the healthcare services they can access. Over the last years, as a resultof restrictive migration policies, the number of undocumented migrants has significantly increased and has become a potential breeding ground forCOVID-19. This article analyses the repercussion of the Security Decree in relation to the outbreak of the Coronavirus. Successively, this workprovides an outline of the general situation faced by migrants in Italy and the institutional causes which might facilitate the spread of the Coronavirusin migrant communities. Finally, the regularization programme, as introduced by the Decreto Rilancio, will be the object of an early critical commentand of a discussion on its efficiency against the COVID-19 virus.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
