ROME (AP) – Ten days after they were rescued in the Mediterranean Sea, Italy has allowed all the migrants stuck on an Italian coast guard ship to disembark.
Early Sunday, 137 migrants left the Diciotti, stepping onto the dock at Catania, Sicily, where police photographed them for ID checks, a requirement for asylum-seekers.
Italy’s populist government had not let them leave the ship earlier, demanding that other European Union countries take them. Only Ireland did, pledging to take 20. Non-EU Albania will take 20, while Italian Catholic bishops said they would care for about 100.
Migrants waiting to be disembarked from the Italian Coast Guard ship “Diciotti” in the port of Catania, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP)
On Aug. 16, the Diciotti’s crew rescued 190 migrants, most from Eritrea, from a smuggling boat. The others, including minors and ailing migrants, were allowed off earlier.
Italy has threatened economic reprisals against the EU for not helping it enough with migrants.
Italian Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, speaks at a Lega party’s meeting in Pinzolo, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Italian state TV says Italy’s interior minister is being investigated for his role in forbidding migrants rescued at sea to disembark. Minister Matteo Salvini indirectly confirmed the report Saturday, tweeting that a Sicilian prosecutor asked him for his data and that “if he wants to interrogate me or even arrest me because I defend the borders and security of my country, I’m proud.” But Salvini said he’ll soon allow the migrants he had kept on an Italian coast guard ship for days to leave. (Daniele Panato/ANSA via AP)
Italian Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, speaks at a Lega party’s meeting in Pinzolo, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Italian state TV says Italy’s interior minister is being investigated for his role in forbidding migrants rescued at sea to disembark. Minister Matteo Salvini indirectly confirmed the report Saturday, tweeting that a Sicilian prosecutor asked him for his data and that “if he wants to interrogate me or even arrest me because I defend the borders and security of my country, I’m proud.” But Salvini said he’ll soon allow the migrants he had kept on an Italian coast guard ship for days to leave. (Daniele Panato/ANSA via AP)
Migrants wait to be disembarked from the Italian Coast Guard ship “Diciotti” in the port of Catania, Italy, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP)
Migrants aboard the Italian Coast Guard ship Diciotti gather as they await decisions in the port of Catania, Italy, Friday, Aug. 24 2018. An Italian lawmaker says rescued migrants stuck aboard an Italian coast guard ship are starting a hunger strike. Rescued on Aug. 16 in the Mediterranean Sea, 150 migrants are still on the ship after minors and the sick were allowed off in recent days. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP)
Migrants aboard the Italian Coast Guard ship Diciotti gather on the deck as they await decisions in the port of Catania, Italy, Friday, Aug. 24 2018. An Italian lawmaker says rescued migrants stuck aboard an Italian coast guard ship are starting a hunger strike. Rescued on Aug. 16 in the Mediterranean Sea, 150 migrants are still on the ship after minors and the sick were allowed off in recent days. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP)
Migrants aboard the Italian Coast Guard ship Diciotti sit as they await decisions in the port of Catania, Italy, Friday, Aug. 24 2018. An Italian lawmaker says rescued migrants stuck aboard an Italian coast guard ship are starting a hunger strike. Rescued on Aug. 16 in the Mediterranean Sea, 150 migrants are still on the ship after minors and the sick were allowed off in recent days. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP)
Migrants aboard the Italian Coast Guard ship Diciotti talk as they await decisions in the port of Catania, Italy, Friday, Aug. 24 2018. An Italian lawmaker says rescued migrants stuck aboard an Italian coast guard ship are starting a hunger strike. Rescued on Aug. 16 in the Mediterranean Sea, 150 migrants are still on the ship after minors and the sick were allowed off in recent days. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP)
Former president of the Italian Lower Chamber, Laura Boldrini, 3rd from right, talks to migrants on the deck of the Italian Coast Guard ship Diciotti moored at the Catania harbor, Italy, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. An official from Italy’s office for personal rights says 150 migrants are being kept aboard without proper authorization aboard an Italian coast guard vessel. Daniela de Robert told Sky TG24 TV after a three-hour visit aboard the Diciotti, that the migrants come from countries from which they should be “easily” able to request refugee status. The Italian news agency ANSA quoted said their rights are being violated because there is no judicial order to prevent their disembarking in Sicily. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP)
Migrants sit on the deck of the Italian Coast Guard ship Diciotti at the Catania harbor, Italy, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. An official from Italy’s office for personal rights says 150 migrants are being kept aboard without proper authorization aboard an Italian coast guard vessel. Daniela de Robert told Sky TG24 TV after a three-hour visit aboard the Diciotti, that the migrants come from countries from which they should be “easily” able to request refugee status. The Italian news agency ANSA quoted said their rights are being violated because there is no judicial order to prevent their disembarking in Sicily. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP)
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