Do Immigration Policies Work? The Case of Italy

The paper evaluates the (in)effectiveness of Italian policies of immigration, focusing on legal requirements for a regular stay and work in Italy, and the punitive system oriented to deal with undocumented migrants. On the basis of a research carried out on a sample of foreigners (that is, non-EU citizens) interviewed in and out of prison, and comparing detainees’ and non-detainees’ migratory experiences, the paper attempts to analyse what works in Italian immigration policies. The distinction between documented and undocumented stay and the inclusion of migrants in the Italian labour market (also in the “underground” economy) are discussed. Also the relationship among irregularity, unemployment and crime, and the administrative-penal system created to deal with undocumented foreigners are analysed.