Palermo judges fail to validate migrant detentions

(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 27 - Judges in Palermo who are members of the tribunal's department specialized in handling immigration and international protection cases have repeatedly failed to uphold the detention of migrants under the government's so-called Cutro legislation, judicial sources said Friday. In particular, since a pre-removal facility was inaugurated mid-August in Porto Empedocle near Agrigento, Sicily, 64 out of the 74 detentions ordered by the local central police department were ruled to be illegitimate and not validated by the court.
    The controversial decree, which was later greenlighted by parliament, was passed after the February 26 Cutro disaster that killed 94 migrants at the Calabrian town.
    It extended the period of detention for migrants in pre-removal facilities and introduced a new form the detention for asylum seekers during the examination of their request for international protection.
    It also required that asylum seekers from countries that are considered safe pay bail of just under 5,000 euro to avoid being detained while awaiting for the outcome of their application.
    (ANSA).