French interior minister to arrive in Lampedusa for migration talks

Transcript

00:00 Immigration is such a dicey and cumbersome issue that has left government officials and advocate

00:05 groups at odds over where the limits of the law can extend to accommodate humanitarian

00:11 considerations. In Rome, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin is expected to arrive today,

00:18 Monday, to talk immigration in the wake of mass arrivals of African nationals over

00:26 the last week in the Italian island of Lampedusa that captured European attention and has since

00:32 drawn debate over the issue. At least 8,500 migrants from various African countries have

00:38 arrived in Lampedusa between Monday to Wednesday last week, prompting a trip to the island by EU

00:45 President Ursula von der Leyen to a drastic action plan on the said matter. Darmanin's

00:52 office issued a statement saying his trip to Italy to meet his counterpart is focused on

00:57 helping the country deal and secure its borders, avowing a louder and clearer message to migrants

01:03 there is no welcome mat for mass and unlawful migration. Meanwhile, Pope Francis is slated

01:10 to visit Marseille this week where he will call for greater tolerance towards migrants.