Interior-ministry data released on 24 September and reported by the Catholic news agency AgenSIR show 22,300 irregular arrivals on Italian shores since 1 January—roughly 28 % fewer than the same period in 2025. September’s tally is 2,700. Bangladesh remains the main country of origin (24.5 %), followed by Algeria and Somalia. Forced and assisted returns total 6,333, indicating that repatriations now equal 28 % of arrivals, up from 24 % in 2025. The ministry attributes the fall to enhanced joint patrols with Tunisia and the continuation of selective sea-border checks with Spain. For employers considering seasonal hiring under the 2026-28 *Decreto flussi* quotas, the figures suggest less pressure on reception centres, which could speed up work-permit and residence-permit issuance. However, NGOs warn that reduced arrivals do not necessarily ease the backlog in asylum adjudications, which still average nine months. Mobility managers should plan for possible spot-checks on coastal movements, especially in Sicily, and verify that new hires from high-arrival countries have processed fingerprints (photo-segmented visas may face longer Schengen checks).
Source: AgenSIR
