Italy’s Lawyer Bonus for Immigrant Returns Sparks Bounty Debate

**TL;DR** Italy’s government will pay lawyers about €615 for each immigrant they persuade to return home, while cutting state‑funded legal aid for those who challenge deportations. The incentive is part of a broader security bill aimed at tightening immigration controls.

**Context** The security bill, introduced by Giorgia Meloni’s coalition, passed the Senate after fierce debate and now heads to the Chamber of Deputies for a final vote. It creates a voluntary repatriation bonus for lawyers who succeed in convincing their immigrant clients to go back to their countries of origin. The same legislation removes state‑funded legal aid for lawyers who wish to contest deportation orders in court.

**Key Facts** The government has allocated €246,000 for the bonus program this year, with funding slated to almost double for the 2027‑2028 budget cycle. Based on press calculations, the individual bonus works out to roughly €615 per verified return. Riccardo Magi, leader of the left‑wing Più Europa party, denounced the scheme as a “wild‑west‑style bounty” that pays lawyers to undermine protections for foreigners. The bill also eliminates state‑funded legal aid for lawyers challenging deportations, a provision criticized by bar associations and magistrates’ unions.

**What It Means** Italy’s national bar council said it was never consulted and urged parliament to scrap the measure, arguing it compromises lawyers’ independence. The Union of Criminal Lawyers (UCPI) warned the bonus is incompatible with the constitution because it ties payment to a state‑desired outcome. The magistrates’ union (ANM) expressed dismay, saying financial incentives linked to repatriation risk weakening judicial protection for migrants. Opposition parties claim the combination of bonuses and stripped legal aid erodes professional dignity and pushes the system toward coercive enforcement.

**What to watch next** The Chamber of Deputies is scheduled to vote on the security bill later this week; approval would lock in the bonus and aid cuts. Legal groups have signaled they may file constitutional challenges, and observers will watch whether the incentive changes voluntary return numbers compared with forced removals.