Migrant Wave Hits Italy

[Loyalist]

Several hundred more migrants from Africa have arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa, bringing the total of arrivals in 48 hours to about 1,700.

Two boats carrying more than 300 people were intercepted by the Italian navy off the island a day after four vessels holding about 1,300 people were found.

Italian officials say there has been a sharp rise in the number of illegal migrants coming from Africa this year.

Many risk the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to enter Europe from Libya.

The latest arrivals included two pregnant women who were among 65 people rescued from a large inflatable dinghy south of Lampedusa, Ansa news agency said.

Another boat was intercepted on Saturday carrying 247 people.

Four vessels made their way to Lampedusa or were intercepted close to the island on Thursday night and Friday morning.

Italian authorities say the island's migrant detention centre, built to house 850people, is under severe pressure.

The interior ministry says more than 24,000 migrants arrived in Italy from January to September, compared to about 14,000 in the same period in 2007.

Many of the migrants are fleeing wars or poverty and leave Africa through Libya, says the BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome. (Continues)

Source

[Thorum]

The invasion continues with little serious resistance........................

[Arrow Cross]

Yeah, there sure wasn't any poverty in Africa in the last few thousand years where minimal amounts of "refugees" came...
They ought to shoot those boats right into the freakin' Mediterranean.

[Jägerstaffel]

Will the children of the pregnant women become Italian citizens if born in Italy?

[Vulpix]

Italian citizenship can be automatically acquired:

• By filiation (birth to an Italian parent); this is consistent with the principle of jus sanguinis.
• By birth on Italian territory to stateless parents or to unknown parents or to parents who cannot transmit their nationality; this is partially consistent with the principle of jus soli.
• By paternal/maternal acknowledgment or legitimation.

Wiki

Will the children of the pregnant women become Italian citizens if born in Italy?

[Oisín]

By birth on Italian territory to stateless parents or to unknown parents or to parents who cannot transmit their nationality; this is partially consistent with the principle of jus soli.

Unlucky. We had the same problem in Ireland with loads of asylum seekers turning up here pregnant, giving birth while their claim was being processed and then their offspring were automatically Irish citizens which meant the parents could get it too. We had a referendum in '04 to change it, now you have to have an Irish parent and be born in Ireland. Nearly 80% of the population voted to change the law, shows how frustrated people are with the asylum seekers.

[Thorum]

Unlucky. We had the same problem in Ireland with loads of asylum seekers turning up here pregnant, giving birth while their claim was being processed and then their offspring were automatically Irish citizens which meant the parents could get it too. We had a referendum in '04 to change it, now you have to have an Irish parent and be born in Ireland. Nearly 80% of the population voted to change the law, shows how frustrated people are with the asylum seekers.

Now that is a bit of good news!!