Italy’s transfer of migrants to Albanian detention centers is unjustified given near-empty domestic facilities and available national capacity, according to regional oversight officials. Stefano Anastasìa, Ombudsman for Persons Deprived of Liberty of the Lazio Region, and Valentina Calderone, Ombudsman for Rome Capital, stated this following their inspection of Albania’s Gjader Repatriation Center (CPR) and prison.
“With only 27 individuals currently held in CPRs alongside significant unused capacity nationally, transferring people to Albania lacks justification,” the ombudsmen reported. They acknowledged the Albanian center’s manager, Medihospes, currently has adequate professional, human, and financial resources for detainee care. However, they highlighted critical concerns: severe difficulties maintaining family and legal contacts due to the remote location, potential healthcare risks if on-site services prove insufficient, and a complete absence of activities during prolonged detention periods.
The officials conducted the visit—assessing operations, facilities, services, and holding private interviews with detainees—based on jurisdiction, as the Gjader CPR falls under Rome Prefecture oversight. Accompanied by State Police and Medihospes directors, they thoroughly examined conditions and also inspected an unused 24-inmate prison section within the complex designated for crimes committed on-site.
Operated by Medihospes with 113 staff (medical, legal, and cultural mediators), the Gjader CPR has a 144-bed capacity, with 96 currently available. The separate section for newly arrived asylum seekers remains unused; it could accommodate 880. Current detainees originate primarily from Algeria, Senegal, Pakistan, India, and Ghana.
Since repurposing as a CPR in April 2024, the center processed 140 individuals. Of 113 departures, 40 resulted from expired detention orders, 37 from repatriations, 15 due to medical ineligibility for detention, 7 from international protection grants, and others for transfers or suspended expulsion orders.
Security involves State Police, Carabinieri, and Finance Guard units, with an Immigration Office linked to Rome Police Headquarters present on-site. During the visit, Anastasìa and Calderone met all detainees requesting an interview.