Problems and challenges regarding irregular migration in Turkey and Italy

TLDR 
Turkey faces persistent irregular migration, funding crime, and terrorism. EU-Turkey cooperation is crucial but complicated by Turkey's authoritarianism, raising ethical concerns about balancing migration control with human rights. While in Italy, irregular migrants face exploitation and "involuntary immobility" due to EU regulations, leaving them vulnerable to harsh working conditions, particularly in agriculture, exacerbated by the pandemic and restrictive policies.
 
Turkey, positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, faces significant challenges with irregular migration, particularly from conflict zones like Afghanistan and Syria. Many migrants rely on smugglers, often linked to criminal or militant groups like the PKK, to navigate dangerous routes into Turkey and onward to the European Union. This smuggling network not only endangers migrants but also funds terrorism and crime.
 
 
The Turkish government has responded with increased border security, including walls and surveillance. Still, these measures have pushed smugglers to find new, often more dangerous routes. Despite efforts to curb migration, the issue remains persistent, highlighting the complex and evolving nature of the challenge.
 
Cooperation between Turkey and the European Union is critical in managing these migration flows, yet it is fraught with difficulties. The EU's reliance on Turkey, an increasingly authoritarian regime, complicates this partnership. While the EU seeks to reduce irregular migration, this dependency raises ethical concerns about supporting a government with questionable human rights practices.

Though necessary for migration control, the relationship reflects the broader tensions between democratic values and pragmatic policy needs, illustrating the challenges of managing migration in a politically and morally complex landscape.
 

Italy has become a critical transit and host country for irregular migrants crossing the Mediterranean, primarily due to the European Union's Dublin Regulation, which mandates that asylum seekers must remain in the first EU country they enter. This regulation has left many migrants stranded in Italy, unable to move further into Europe or secure stable legal residence.
 
The resulting "involuntary immobility" exposes these migrants to significant risks, particularly in Italy's agricultural sector, where they are often exploited through illegal practices like the caporalato system. Here, migrants work under harsh conditions for low wages, with little access to fundamental rights or services.
 
The situation was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which further marginalized these migrants and exacerbated their precarious living and working conditions. Despite Italy's efforts to manage migration through various policies, including restrictive measures like the Salvini and Cutro Decrees, many migrants remain vulnerable to exploitation by criminal networks and employers who take advantage of their lack of legal status.
 
As Italy grapples with these challenges, the future of these migrants remains uncertain, particularly with the impending implementation of the European Union's New Pact on Migration and Asylum, set to take effect in 2026.
 
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