Rome - Italy's conservative government won approval Wednesday in the lower house of parliament for measures making illegal immigration a punishable offence, and allowing mayors to form civilian anti-crime patrols in towns and cities. A provision to triple the time illegal immigrants can be detained in holding centres, also forms part of the security package tabled by the government
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is relying on a vote of confidence, to ensure parliamentary approval of the controversial package.
On Wednesday, the bill was approved by 316 votes for to 238 against in the Chamber of Deputies. It still needs to be approved by the upper-house Senate for it to take effect.
"This is a fundamental step to equip law enforcement officials and mayors with the means to combat crime in general," Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, said following the vote.
Italy's centre-left opposition, the Catholic Church and human rights activists have slammed what they say is the criminalisation of would-be immigrants.
Under the provisions, people entering Italy without permission face fines of up to 10,000 euros (13,622 dollars), while anyone renting housing to an illegal immigrant faces up to three years in prison.
Critics also allege the citizen-patrols envisioned by the government, would amount to vigilante groups who are likely to harass foreigners.
But Maroni, whose anti-immigration Northern League party spearheaded the security package's introduction, has said the patrols would mostly consist of unarmed, retired police officers.
Despite enjoying a clear parliamentary majority, the government was defeated in April when, in a secret ballot, lawmakers rejected the proposal to extend from two to six months the period during which illegal immigrants can be kept in the holding centres.
Through a vote of confidence, lawmakers from the governing coalition are compelled to vote for the government since a defeat would force it to resign.
Berlusconi won elections in April 2008 on an anti-crime platform, promising also to curb illegal immigration which, according to surveys, many Italian associate with a growing security problem in their towns and cities.
Amid criticism from the Vatican and the United Nations Refugee Agency, the UNHCR, Italy last week began returning to Libya would-be immigrants rescued or intercepted at sea in international waters.
The UNHCR on Tuesday asked the Italian government to readmit into the country some of the African migrants who have been sent back to Libya, arguing that they are likely to be fleeing persecution, and are in need of international protection.
But Berlusconi has vowed to continue the new policy. He said it is part of an agreement reached in 2008 with Tripoli that aims to combat "criminals" who exploit the plight of migrants by organizing clandestine voyages across the Mediterranean.
Berlusconi also said migrants intercepted in Italian waters, or those who manage to land on the country's shores, would continue to be detained in Italian holding centres to determine whether they are political refugees and thus eligible to receive asylum and avoid deportation.
According to the Italian government, an extension of the period during which migrants can be kept at the holding centres, is rendered necessary to allow for their proper identification.
Some 36,000 migrants arrived in Italy by sea in 2008, with around 30,000 landing on the islet of Lampedusa which lies between Sicily and North Africa.
