ROME (Reuters) - Italian lawmakers on Thursday approved a government decree that allows migrants aged 16 or 17 to be held in adult reception centres and gives police stronger powers to check that migrants are not falsely claiming to be under age.
Under Italian and European legislation, unaccompanied young migrants are entitled to more favourable treatment.
For example, they cannot be expelled and should have access to more extensive welfare and support services.
It allows minors aged 16 or 17 to be held in adult migrant reception camps when places for underage migrants are not available, and says they can be held there for up to 150 days.
Earlier this month, Meloni announced Italy would build migrant identification and reception centres in Albania, saying she hoped they could host as many as 36,000 sea migrants per year.
Persons:
Giorgia, Meloni, Angelo Amante, Gareth Jones
Organizations:
Senate, Unicef
Locations:
ROME, Italy, Albania, Africa