In this photo: Livia Turco / Letizia Moratti
Milan Mayor Letizia Moratti, speaking at a conference on immigration at the city’s Università Cattolica, has caused controversy by suggesting that unemployed illegal immigrants commonly turn to crime. She also pointed out a loophole in the law whereby, although illegal immigration is a crime, an illegal immigrant cannot be deported if he or she is being investigated for other offences.

The Mayor’s words caused uproar in the conference hall and soon afterwards opposition politicians began to voice their indignation. Livia Turco, who heads the Pd [Democratic Party] Immigration Forum, called Ms Moratti’s words “irresponsible” and said,

“An illegal immigrant is not a person who commits crime but a person who needs a permission to stay document. People who commit crimes, whether they are Italian or not, must be punished. If this is not happening the problem is the eternal one of a justice system which does not work. It’s not an immigration problem.”

Giuliana Carlino of the Italia dei Valori [Italy of Values] Party said that the Mayor had “seriously overstepped the mark” and Pd Senator Roberto Di Giovan Paolo said that far more crimes are committed by Italians than foreigners. However, the Northern League Minister of the Interior, Roberto Maroni, who also spoke at the conference, defended Ms Moratti and claimed that she had been misquoted.

A Vatican spokesman said that the best way to tackle the problems posed by immigration is to help immigrants to integrate.

Do you agree with Mayor Moratti or Livia Turco?