Italy again refuses entry to refugees

ROME — Italy transferred 451 migrants from a large fishing boat onto two border patrol vessels Saturday in the Mediterranean Sea, but the migrants’ ultimate destination remained uncertain after Italy’s hard-line interior minister insisted they should be sent to Malta or Libya.

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who has forced migration to the top of Europe’s agenda by refusing to let rescue boats dock at Italian ports, vowed to remain firm Saturday as he created yet another standoff with hundreds of migrants stranded at sea.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte’s office said three ideas were being considered: redistributing the migrants among European countries, contacting Libyan authorities to arrange for their return, or keeping them on board the ships to screen them for asylum.

Both Italy and Malta refused to let the fishing boat dock. Malta it had fulfilled its obligations by monitoring the vessel to see if it needed help.

Early Saturday, the migrants were transferred onto a rescue vessel from the European Union border patrol agency Frontex and a ship from the Italian border police.

Salvini has upended years of Italian policy toward migrants by refusing them entry. Italy feels that the EU has left it alone to handle the thousands of migrants coming across the sea every year.