Italian, Danish prime ministers call for expanded deportations to tackle illegal immigration

Italy and Denmark have issued a joint prime ministerial statement on illegal immigration.

"For too long, ordinary citizens have paid a heavy price for uncontrolled immigration," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Monday in a joint statement. "It is now time to expand deportations," they added, according to Italy's ANSA news agency and Yonhap.

The two leaders also addressed the broader obligations of those living in Europe. "Respect for the law must go hand in hand with respect for European values," they said, adding that this applied "not only to illegal immigrants but also to the millions of legal foreigners" in Europe.

Italy and Denmark have both criticized Spain's more inclusive immigration policies in recent months. Tensions between the two countries and Spain escalated after Italy suspended the Schengen Agreement — which guarantees free movement within the EU — for Spanish nationals, prompting Spain to tighten border checks on Italian travelers.