The police union in Milan has called for assistance for officers at city's police headquarters, where crowds of people gather every day to file asylum requests. Growing tensions between police and foreigners recently led to tear gas being used.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani have issued statements after their visits to countries of departure of migrants. Interior Ministry Undersecretary Nicola Molteni meanwhile announced a 'migrant flow decree' to respond to labor market demand.
On a visit to Tunisia the Italian ministers for foreign affairs and the interior met with their counterparts to discuss stability in the Mediterranean region and stopping migration flows. The Italian delegation will travel to Egypt on Saturday, another key departure and transit country.
A prominent Catholic bishop and leader of the Migrantes foundation is among NGO leaders to call on the Italian government to scrape their new decree regarding the rescue of migrants and refugees by humanitarian ships.
Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the far right FdI party and election frontrunner, has proposed a naval blockade in the Mediterranean to stop migration to Italy. Left-leaning politicians and a Catholic aid organization say the proposal is anti-democratic and violates international treaties.