Italy’s Immigration Law

Documenti, prego!

During 2005 in Italy the number of active police officers from all agencies totaled 324,339, the highest number in Europe both overall and per capita, twice the number of agents in the United Kingdom. Italy is also now home to about 4 million immigrants, necessary to industry but not completely welcomed by native-born ethnic Italians.

Italy has had a strict immigration law for years. It's provisions are similar to Arizona’s SB 1070's document checks, but Italy's idea of Constitutional Rights aren't the same as the U.S... Travelling with police in Milan and talking to an Italian-born woman of Egyptian heritage provides a glimpse of how that law is enforced.

Audio Embed: BBC, PRI & WGBH's The World 7/29/10, Reporter: Christopher Livesay.