Italy Slashes Illegal Immigration, Deportations Soar Under Meloni
Italy's illegal sea arrivals dropped 77 percent compared to 2023 as Prime Minister Meloni's hardline immigration policies increased deportations to 31 percent of irregular migrants.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi presented the figures to parliament, revealing that irregular arrivals have fallen 52 percent compared to the same period in 2025, according to Brussels Signal.
The data shows that repatriations have surged more than 40 percent since Meloni’s government took office in October 2022, with an additional 30 percent increase recorded in the first months of 2026 compared to the previous year.
Repatriation Rate Jumps to 31 Percent
The most striking shift has been in the ratio of deportations to illegal arrivals. In 2023, just three percent of those who landed illegally in Italy were repatriated. That figure climbed to 10 percent in 2025 and has now reached 31 percent in early 2026.
Piantedosi told lawmakers that the Government will continue with determination the path taken to guarantee legality and safety, defending the administration’s strict approach to border security.
Simona Bordonali, a parliamentarian from the coalition partner Lega party, praised the results and pledged continued backing for the government’s policies. She highlighted increased police staffing, improved law enforcement salaries, declining crime rates, and the impressive repatriation numbers.
Meloni’s Border Control Strategy Delivers Results
The populist government credits the success to bilateral deals with North African nations, naval interdiction missions, the controversial Albania migrant processing center program, and a tougher posture toward NGO ships operating near Libyan territorial waters.
The sharp decline in arrivals has relieved strain on Italy’s reception facilities and public services, though humanitarian groups have raised concerns about conditions in Libya and the risk of increased casualties on more perilous maritime routes.
Political Victory Strengthens Meloni’s Hand
The statistics represent a major political win for Meloni, who campaigned on restoring control over Italy’s borders. The results are expected to bolster her position in European Union migration talks, where Rome has increasingly promoted itself as a blueprint for effective immigration enforcement.
Left-wing opposition parties have attacked the government’s methods as excessively punitive, but the concrete evidence of reduced arrivals and increased deportations has made it difficult to challenge the narrative of policy success.
The data reinforces Italy’s emergence as a leader among European nations seeking to regain sovereignty over immigration policy and reduce the flow of illegal border crossings.
With information from Brussels Signal
