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[Teacher in Rome]

The new Berlusconi government (and his allies in the Northern League) have announced new measures against illegal immigrants. They are aimed particularly against Gypsies (the not-so-new scapegoat in Italy), but could well apply to all non-EU illegal immigrants.

Here are some of the highlights (from today's http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/22/italy1) Guardian :

- local authorities can check on the living conditions of EU citizens before giving them "residence"

- unauthorised entry into Italy is now a crime

- it will become easier to deport foreigners (EU and non-EU) if they commit a crime

- property let to illegal immigrants can be confiscated

It will be interesting to see how the EU responds to this, especially as the proposals conflict with European law on freedom of movement within the EU. But it does mean that, in theory, anyone working or living here illegally can be much more easily deported.

[spiral78]

It also means that landlords may now want to see legal residency papers before renting out a flat - if it can be seized by the government!

[HLJ]

Has the Italian government definitely decided to restart immigration/passport checks at airports for flights arriving from and departing to other EU/Schengen countries?

Does anyone know if and when these new measures will take effect?

Thanks.

[newsygirl]

Although this article is from a Czech posting, I strongly advise anyone thinking about working in the E.U. illegally to read this article and give it some thought.
I was returning home from Germany a few months, and although I was departing from Germany, the German immigration officals at the airport were checking my documents to make sure I hadn't over-stayed my visit.
I'ld be weary of over-staying my visit in Italy too, especially after reading this post...

From the Prague Post:

Two Americans to be deported under Schengen
Men being held in refugee camp in East Bohemia

February 6th, 2008 issue

(Updated Feb. 12, 2008)"Two Americans who were illegally residing in the Czech Republic have been arrested, put in a camp for illegal aliens and are awaiting deportation, Mlad� fronta Dnes reports.

Police in the East Bohemian town of Prostějov arrested two American citizens who exceeded the three months they are allowed to legally stay in the Czech Republic without a visa, according to the newspaper. They are being held in a camp for refugees in Po�torn� na Břeclavsku.

The two men, who came to the Czech Republic in October, failed to leave the country during the three-month period. If the men had left, they would have automatically had the legal right to stay another three months when they came back.

Schengen agreements were made between European Union countries in 1985 and 1990 that allow residents in participating countries to travel freely without border controls. As part of European Union enlargement, the Czech Republic entered the Schengen zone in December.

Before the Czech Republic joined the Schengen zone, it was common practice for foreigners to leave for a neighboring country in any three-month period to fulfill the legal requirement.

But now that the nearest "foreign" border is with Ukraine, the procedure has become more complicated. Along with the Czech Republic, eight other countries joined the Schengen travel area in 2007 -- Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Prior to the expansion, there were 15 Schengen states. The island of Cyprus and Romania and Bulgaria are expected to join in the future."

The article's not clear that the men would have had to stay out of the zone for at least 90 days, to have the right to return for 90 more...but that is the case. No more one-day border runs