The first migrants sent to Albania for processing return to Italy

Associated Press

SHENGJIN, Albania (AP) — An Italian navy ship has taken back to Italy the first 12 migrants from newly opened asylum processing centers in Albania following a highly-debated court decision in Rome.  The ship arrived in the southern Italian port of Bari on Saturday afternoon and the migrants were taken to the local hosting centre for asylum seekers. Friday’s court ruling represents an early stumbling block to a five-year deal between Italy and Albania for Tirana to host 3,000 migrants per month picked up by the Italian coast guard. They will be vetted for possible asylum in Italy or to be sent back to their countries. The court in Rome rejected the detention of 12 of the migrants, arguing they cannot be sent back to their countries or origin — Bangladesh and Egypt — because they are not safe enough.