In some cases, we were told that the persons their assistance. signed some papers without being aware of the All persons we interviewed, except for one case content. of a minor, told us, that they had no contact with In almost all of the cases the readmitted persons a NGO staff, such as lawyers or social workers. could not contact a lawyer, an NGO staff or any one Furthermore, none of the apprehended persons else. Even in cases where the readmitted persons had any possibility to contact them by themselves, told the authorities that they have family members ask them for support or receive any oral and/or legally residing in Italy, they were not allowed to written information. contact them. According to the NGOs, sometimes interpreters are allowed to accompany the officers and provide their services to the authorities without The registration procedure takes place without any the presence of other NGO staff. In other times formalities and legal guarantees. In some cases, the they are allowed to interpret via telephone. Even interviewees told us that the police did not even when NGO staff is allowed to be present during write down their names. There is no provision for the procedure, its speediness and the lack of legal remedies challenging the wrong registration privacy do not guarantee the confidentiality and of names and ages. the effectiveness of the provided services. During No identification procedure is followed for collective apprehensions further time limitations identifying those in need of international worsen the quality of the provided services, when protection, other vulnerable cases or people in available. Under these circumstances the NGOs need of medical assistance. Before the removal no cannot really provide legal aid. individual assessment of each case takes place by the authorities. In many cases the removals were collective. In Ancona the offices of “GUS”, the organization providing assistance, are situated in the premises of the port. The office of the NGO is open until 5pm, The apprehended were not allowed to express to but the ships nowadays arrive with a delay of one the authorities the reason why they should not be to two hours as they have reduced their speed in readmitted. All of the persons interviewed, have order to save fuel. If migrants are found on board told us that they could not challenge their removal out of working hours, and in case the authorities and that they had no access to a legal remedy inform the organisation about the arrival, the staff either returns to the port, goes to the police station against refoulement. upon phone call or provides tele-interpretation services. Additionally, we noticed while visiting the NGO offices during normal working hours, a paper 2.4. Services provided by Italian NGOs stating that the NGO “does not follow files for family reunion except in special issues”. inside the ports In the Italian ports, NGOs provide “assistance services, legal information and orientation for asylum seekers”. As we were told by NGO staff, they do not have free access to the terminals in the ports, nor do they always receive information concerning all arrivals. Only when the police decide to utilize their services then they are allowed to contact the apprehended persons.25 It remains unclear on which criteria the authorities ask for 25 About Venice, see: http://www.meltingpot.org/IMG/pdf/ RelazioneRespingimentiVenezia.pdf In Bari the organization offering legal counseling in the port is called “Rete Iside”. Its office is situated far away from the pier where ships from Greece arrive. According to the staff, their intervention is limited, since it depends on the police whether or not they will be asked to offer counseling and interpretation services. In Venice the responsible support organization is “Coges”26. Despite the fact that the organization 26 Venezia – Lettera alla Coges: fuori dal porto o dentro solo 9