(VOVworld) – Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti has said that Italy will boost deportations of migrants who do not have a right to stay in Italy and will open new detention centers for those being sent home.

Migrants on a boat of the Italian coastguard (Photo: VNA)

The Interior Ministry said in December it will take a tougher stance on migrants this year, without giving details. In testimony to parliament on Wednesday, Minniti described his plan publicly for the first time, saying that Italy has to deport those who do not qualify for asylum and are in violation of the law. Only four pre-deportation detention centers with about 360 beds are now functioning. The Interior Ministry intends to open 16 more with 1,600 beds. Italy rejected more than 60 percent of the almost 124,000 f asylum requests it received last year.