An Italian coast-guard ship took back to Italy the first 12 migrants from newly opened immigration centers in Albania on October 19 after a court ruling in Rome.
The Italian court on October 18 ruled against the right-wing government's move to detain migrants at asylum-processing facilities outside the European Union under an agreement between Italy and Albania.
SEE ALSO: EU, Chisinau Reject Reports Of Plans To Open 'Deportation Hub' In MoldovaThe court said the migrants had to return to Italy because their countries of origin -- Egypt and Bangladesh -- could not be considered safe.
The migrants were transferred to the Albanian facility of Gjader on October 16 to undergo what the bilateral agreement describes as expedited border procedures.
They originally numbered 16, but four of them had already been brought back to Italy -- two for health reasons and two for being minors.
A cabinet meeting is expected to be held on October 21 to decide on the government's response.
The court ruling represents a stumbling block to the arrangement between Italy and Albania that the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hailed as a new "model" for dealing with illegal migration.
The agreement states that while in the centers, an Italian judge would consider the migrants' asylum claims and decide whether to grant them or send them back to their home countries.
Speaking to reporters during a trip to Lebanon, Meloni called the decision "prejudiced" and said it was up to her government to determine which countries are safe and which are not, suggesting she would draft new rules to address the issue.
SEE ALSO: Poland To Suspend Right To Asylum After Tensions With Belarus On Migrants"Perhaps the government needs to clarify better what is meant by 'safe country'," she said.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi told a news conference he was confident the decision would be overturned, adding that the government would take its appeal up to the Supreme Court if necessary.
For now, the court ruling means they will all have to be transferred to Italy.
The centers are set to cost Italy $730 million over five years. The facilities are managed by Italy and under Italian jurisdiction, while Albanian guards provide external security.
Italy has agreed to accept those migrants who have been granted asylum, while those whose claims are rejected face deportation directly from Albania.