Italian lawyers could win ‘wild west-style bounties’ if immigration clients go home

Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government to ask MPs to back controversial voluntary repatriation scheme Italian lawyers will be paid bonuses if they successfully convince their immigrant clients to return home under a government plan that has been compared to a “wild west-style bounty”. The incentive is in the latest security bill from Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government and goes to the lower house of parliament for final approval this week. It was passed by the upper house after fiery debate. Meloni’s ruling coalition has earmarked €246,000 (£214,000) for the incentive this year, with funding almost doubling for 2027 and 2028. Lawyers who assist their foreign clients in accepting voluntary repatriation will receive a bonus, but only once the individual has returned to their country of origin. The bill does not stipulate the bonus amount but rough calculations by the Italian press equate it to about €615. The security bill also has a measure removing access to state-funded legal aid when challenging deportation orders. The bonus plan has provoked a fresh clash with Italian lawyers and magistrates a month after Meloni’s government was defeated in a referendum on a ju