Defending immigrants is a business: Italy has spent €400 million on legal aid – around R$2,5 billion. The high cost of free legal representation raises questions about the real interests behind the country’s unrestricted advocacy of mass immigration.
Data released by newspaper The newspaper, this Monday (10), indicate that, in the period analyzed (2021-2022), 285 million euros were earmarked for the payment of legal fees in court. In addition, 71 million euros were spent solely on administrative appeals by immigrants to provincial commissions. The total amount represents a significant increase in state expenditure on the sector.
Italian law allows foreigners without financial means to be eligible for free sponsorship. However, the number of lawsuits and appeals has led to a significant backlog of cases in the courts, delaying decisions and overloading the legal system. Law firms and specialized NGOs, such as Caritas e House of Charity – both linked to the Catholic Church – profit from this system, making immigration a profitable sector for various groups.
Interests behind mass immigration
The constant arrival of immigrants to Italy is not only due to humanitarian factors. There are economic and political sectors that directly benefit from the migratory flow. Companies that depend on cheap work force, non-governmental organizations that receive state and international funding, as well as left-wing political parties that use the migration agenda to expand their electoral base, have an interest in maintaining this policy.
The legal sector also benefits greatly. Many lawyers have specialized in defending foreigners, taking advantage of state incentives to act in appeals that often only postpone the final decision, ensuring that immigrants remain in the country for a longer period of time.
Repercussion and political debate
The Court of Cassation's decision, which granted refugees the right to appeal even without official recognition, has increased the demand for free legal assistance. The issue has sparked debate among politicians and experts, with criticism of the alleged abuse of the system by law firms and NGOs specializing in defending immigrants.
Lawyer Guido Vannicelli, in an interview with Agi, highlighted that “foreign citizens coming from countries without a repatriation agreement have the right to remain in Italy until the final decision on their case, which could take years”.
This raises questions about the system's impact on migration control and the country's economy.
