The Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) has compiled a fact-checking report that analyses whether the main statements in the Italian debate over migration are true or false.
The number of migrants arriving in Italy is continually increasing: True or false?
True, "if one considers only arrivals by sea, which have grown from an average of 25,000 between 2004-2013 to 170,000 between 2014-2016," the report said. It said it's also true that migrants who travel to the European Union disembark mainly in Italy.
Migrants are fleeing conflict, above all else. True or false?
False. According to ISPI, for every 100 entries in Italy, 85 are for predominantly economic reasons.
Relocations aren't working. True or false?
According to the report, the idea that Italy is defaulting on migrant identification is false, while it's true that relocations in Europe aren't working, given that as of June 27, only 7,277 asylum seekers had been relocated from Italy, despite a goal of 35,000 relocations by September 2017.
Structures are at capacity. True or false?
True. "Italian reception structures are at capacity," according to the report. It said that given the debate over increased arrivals in recent days, Italy may decide to "ban entrance to Italian ports for non-Italian ships carrying migrants." ISPI said while it's true that the migrant crisis would be disrupted if the crises in the countries of origin were to be resolved, "over the long term, the push to emigrate from Africa wouldn't stop."
Terrorists are hiding among the migrants. True or false?
The belief that terrorists are hidden among migrants is false, or nearly false. "Among those who have committed or attempted to commit an attack in Europe between 2014 and now, only eight people had most likely reached the continent through migrant routes", the report said.
Migrants take away jobs from Italians. True or false?
False, along with the belief that migrants bring salaries down. It is true, however, that refugees and asylum seekers "weigh on Italians' pockets" in the short term, given that in 2016, Italy spent 3.6 billion euros for sea rescue operations and reception. In 2017 this figure is expected to rise to 4.2 billion, the report said. In the long term it said costs will depend on the level of integration and tax contributions from refugees.
Migrants lead to an increase in crime. True or false?
According to the ISPI report, " out of 1,000 foreigners present in Italy, about 3.5 are incarcerated, while out of 1,000 Italians, the rate of incarceration is 0.6." Despite this, the increase in migrants "doesn't seem to increase their level of criminal activity. Between 2009 and 2015, with a 47 percent increase in foreign residents, the prison population decreased from 37 percent to 33 percent of the total."(ANSAmed).