Turin's CIE - International University College of Turin

Yet, this girl suffers as her mother is locked in CIE over the other side of the country. Who
decides this child’s identity? This young girl has never been to her mother’s country of origin,
and yet she risks having her mother deported. The mother had committed crimes that resulted
in her serving a six month prison sentence before being taken to CIE. The mother served her
time and repaid her debt to society, before being distanced from her daughter for subsequent
CIE detention. The daughter has not committed any crime. Yet, at the time of the interview the
daughter had already suffered more than five months without her mother due to the mother’s
CIE detention. At least in this case the daughter could still live with her grandmother, who was a
long-term Italian resident with a valid permit to stay. Nevertheless, the way that the CIE system
actually operates is extremely concerning when we consider it in terms of individual stories and
look at the potential effects on immigrant children, their families and their sense of self.
So, if birth place and life experience are not enough, then surely blood is? In reality, this depends
on practical factors: “[I]t is shameful. I am Italian. I was born in Italy. My father was Italian and
they put me in a detention centre. I will be an example for Italy because I am not the only one.
There are many people in the same situation as me” (Interview 21). Blood itself is not enough
because one needs to be able to prove their blood and to be able to access the associated legal
processes and bureaucratic requirements. In this case, a now deceased Italian parent had not
put his paternity on the child’s Italian birth certificate. A baby cannot choose whether their
parents acknowledge them on their birth certificate. Yet, it is that baby who will grow up
classified according to their parents’ decision. Had this detainee’s father acknowledged his
biological son then the young man’s life would be very different today: “I came here to Italy so as
to claim my rights. What is the basis of a person? It is his birth certificate. Or, am I wrong? I was
born here in Italy, my father was Italian and they put me inside the centre instead of helping me.
This is not justice. I also have a horrible disease [severe epilepsy]. I cannot stay here. I am in danger
of dying” (Interview 21). Again, we can only see the system for what it is when we consider it on
this human level.
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