The Biden administration is planning to send some migrants from Latin America for resettlement in Greece and Italy in order to discourage border crossings between the United States and Mexico. This was reported by CBS News, citing two people familiar with the government’s plans.
The initiative would involve Greece and Italy welcoming the migrants, whose procedures are “handled in the immigration offices that the Biden administration established last year in four Latin American countries to select those hoping to reach the United States,” the sources clarified on condition of anonymity. “The centers, officially known as Offices for Safe Mobility, would allow some migrants in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Guatemala to apply to enter the United States or other countries legally. Under the new agreements, Greece and Italy would join Canada and Spain in resettling some of the individuals whose procedures are handled in those offices. One source said that Italy and Greece would likely accept a relatively small number of migrants, about 500 or less each.”
“The CBS report is completely misleading,” sources from Palazzo Chigi said, explaining that “there is currently a reciprocity proposal being studied, where the US would host refugees in Libya who wish to go to Europe, while some European Mediterranean states would host a few dozen South American refugees. As for our nation, it would involve about 20 Venezuelan refugees of Italian origin to start work paths in Italy. The discussion is currently only at the study stage and would be very advantageous for Italy and European states of first arrival.”
Italy is “unavailable” for the relocation of hundreds of migrants on national territory considering “the efforts already made in the field of reception,” sources from the Ministry of the Interior said.
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