CIE Research Project

CIE Research Project

The CIE Research Project scrutinizes the treatment of immigration detainees, in Turin’s Center for Identification & Expulsion  (CIE), for compliance with applicable Italian, European and international human rights standards. Specifically, EU Directive 115/2008/EC stipulates that State parties should, where possible, prioritize the voluntary return of immigrants who are staying illegally. Moreover, where possible States should adopt alternative measures in order to avoid immigration detention. In theory Italian national legislation is required to have incorporated EU Directive 115/2008/EC, however the findings from the CIE Research Project have revealed that in practice the Italian authorities do not appear to be implementing the Directive appropriately since administrative detention is being used in both Turin, and possibly throughout Italy, as the general rule rather than the exception.

  • Since 2012, the International University College of Turin (IUC) is conducting an ongoing study on the detention conditions of migrants in the Centre for Identification and Expulsion (CIE) of Turin. The study is being undertaken jointly with the Departments of Law of the University of Turin and of the University of Eastern Piedmont, and in partnership with the Associazione Studi Giuridici sull’Immigrazione (ASGI).

  • The project is motivated by the fact that – according to a number of associations, institutions and organisations at local, national, European and international level – the current praxis of administrative detention of irregular migrants in immigration detention centres raises numerous concerns in Italy and elsewhere in Europe. In particular, a common issue in civil society and academic debate is whether there is an inconsistency between the explicit and implicit aims of CIEs that gives way to abuses, inefficiency, disease and violations of human rights.

  • The CIE research initiative investigates both systemic and individual problems faced by detainees, their families and people who either work in CIE or have contact with CIE in a professional or voluntary capacity. The study consists in a qualitative survey (semi-structured in-depth interviews) aiming at collecting and presenting holistic information about experiences of immigration detention in Turin. Interviews are therefore targeted at a broad cross-section of subjects, such as current and former detainees, lawyers, journalists, religious personnel, and NGO workers.

  • The survey has brought to the surface a number of issues, including ambivalent understandings of what a CIE is; the effects of detention on family relationships and on detainees’ physical and mental health; CIE detention as a further deprivation of freedom for former convicts; the controversial role of embassies and consulates in the identification procedure and the lack of activities and the daily hurdles suffered by migrants inside CIE.

The following publications have been produced so far related to the CIE Research Project:

The CIE Research Project outcomes have been presented at the following conferences, some of which were additionally organized (or co-organized) by the IUC:

  • Mai più CIE, organized by the IUC on June 3, 2014 in cooperation with the Italian network ‘LasciateCIEntrare’, ASGI, Amnesty International and the University of Turin.
  • Security, Justice and Freedom at the University of Valencia (Spain), February 5-7, 2014.
  • The Routinisation of Administrative Detention of Migrants and Free Movement of Citizens:Time to Explore Alternatives at the European Parliament, Brussels(Belgium), October 17, 2013.
  • Towards a Citizen Pact: Civil Rights in Europe, organized by European Alternatives in Barcelona (Spain), June 8-9, 2013.
  • Illegality Regimes. Mapping the Law of Illegality at VU University Amsterdam, May 30-31, 2013.
  • Viaggio all’interno dei CIE. Quali prospettive per i diritti umani? [A journey inside CIEs. Which perspectives for human rights?], organized by Amnesty International in Turin, March 11, 2013.
  • Pratiche dei diritti [Practices of Rights] at Roma Tre University, december 20, 2012.
  • Presentation of the report ‘Betwixt and Between: Turin’s CIE’ at the International University College of Turin, December 7, 2012.
  • La detenzione amministrativa nei Centri di Identificazione ed Espulsione. Disponibilità, capacità, possibilità di intervento e ruolo del volontariato [Administrative detention inside Centres for Identification and Expulsion. Availability, capacity, possible presence and role of volunteers], Conferenza Regionale Volontariato Giustizia, Turin, November 17, 2012.
  • The ‘CIE System’ and the Human Rights Violations, EU Sakharov Prize – Human Rights Week, LasciateCIEntrare Campaign – European Parliament Information Office in Rome, November 16, 2012.
  • Ausweisung, Zurückweisung, Abschiebung: Zwischen Aufenthaltsrecht und Exklusion [Expulsion, return, repatriation: between right to stay and exclusion], Yearly meeting of the migration law network of professors and scholars “Netzwerks Migrationsrecht”, Stuttgart, November 9-11, 2012.
  • The Management of the External Borders of the EU and its Impact on the Human Rights of Migrants: The Italian Experience at Expert Meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants – Mr. François Crepeau, European University Institute – Open Society Foundations, Florence, October 3, 2012.
  • Quali alternative ai CIE? Prospettive e proposte [Which alternatives to CIEs? Perspectives and proposals] organized by European Alternatives at Transeuropa Festival, Bologna, May 10 2012.

The Human Rights and Migration Law Clinic has produced a documentary, which builds on testimonies gathered in the course of the CIE inquiry.

 

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