refugees in southern Italy

Italian (and other EU) authorities in the Mediterranean pretty much ensure that all arrivals are processed through official channels. The estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the USA has little implication for foreign travellers, nor does the current situation in Europe.

MaryJean,

From what I've seen on the Italian and other new channels, the refugees are being housed in enclosed camps (including some former military bases). They will likely be confined most of the time and I'm not sure how much ability they will have to wander about freely. I doubt this will have much of an impact on travel in southern Italy.

What implications are you anticipating? I'm traveling to Sicily this fall and don't expect to notice that this crisis is underway unless I see coverage in the news or newspapers. Refugees who have not been granted asylum have virtually no chance of coming in contact with other travelers - they are intercepted by the authorities as they land.

Some of them might be ISIS jihadists looking for some tourists' heads to chop off. Wear a turtleneck to make it hard for them to find your neck and you should be fine.

i am in Sicily now, wearing a turtleneck sweater just in case.

If you didn't notice, the refugee crisis started several years ago. It made the news now as there was a big accident with a lot of casualties.

The refugee crisis is not new, as someone stated, and the influx of refugees is not limited to southern Italy. Once processed, a refugee could get sent to any part of Italy. There is a refugee camp near Siena, in the heart of the Tuscan hills. Quite a few of the Africans you may see throughout Italy that are selling tissues or umbrellas or what-have-you are not legal. I am not exactly sure what affects you think this will have on travel. Can you specify?

Thanks for your replies all. I don't have any specific concerns but thought someone might know something I don't.