Legislation making illegal immigration a felony is "useless", "ineffective" and "even damaging", Italy's Supreme Court presiding judge said on Thursday.
"Making illegal immigration a crime has proved useless, ineffective and in some cases damaging," said Giovanni Canzio.
Illegal immigration should be a civil offence sanctioned with fines or at most a deportation order, Canzio said in an address to mark the start of the 2016 judicial year.
"This would give concrete results," Canzio stated.
Illegal immigration has been a penal offence in Italy since August 2009, under a controversial law passed by a previous conservative government. The crime is punishable with hefty fines, immediate deportation and prison sentences of up to four years for re-offenders.
