So far, 2,160 migrants have landed on Italian shores since the beginning of the year, SIR (Servizio Informazione Religiosa) reported.
This is a drastic drop compared to the previous year. Data shows that in the same period last year there were 4,503, while in 2024 there were 3,982.
Of the nearly 2,200 migrants who landed in Italy in 2026, 621 were Bangladeshi citizens (28.7%), based on their declarations upon disembarkation. The country rankings are followed by Somalia, Algeria, Sudan and Egypt.
Italy's conservative government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, recently approved a law introducing new measures to combat illegal migration, including the so-called “sea blockade“ of migrant boats trying to reach Italian shores, the AP reported.
A cabinet meeting gave the green light to the bill, which must be examined and voted on in both houses of parliament before it can come into force. Italy's new migration package, which includes stricter border surveillance and cooperation with European agencies, was adopted a day after the approval of the new EU pact on migration and asylum, which Rome plans to implement quickly. The package includes new powers that will allow Italian authorities to impose a sea blockade of migrant boats trying to enter Italian territorial waters, under certain conditions.