No deportation but no leniency here: Multi-faceted bordered penality in Italy

The chapter delves into Italy's pivotal role as a critical European gateway in the Central Mediterranean, strategically positioned for sea arrivals and transit to Northern and Central Europe. Despite the perceived leniency in its migration enforcement system, marked by discretion and limited deportation, Italy's border control reveals a complexity that goes beyond initial impressions. Focusing on the concept of “bordered penality", the chapter argues that the enforcement system, grappling with the significant presence of non-deportable migrants, leads to a continuous movement among various confinement sites. The authors highlight the inhumane and pervasive control mechanisms experienced by migrants, as they shift between pre-removal detention centres, hotspots, reception centres, and prisons, resulting in differential inclusion. The chapter traces the historical evolution of arrivals in Italy, emphasizing the geopolitical significance and economic labour market implications. It scrutinizes the shortcomings of deportation practices and delineates the continuum of confinement for undeported migrants. Ultimately, the chapter asserts that Italy's bordered penality, encompassing detention and containment practices, effectively responds to the country's unique political, economic, and geopolitical situation.