Migrants keep warm in Red Cross blankets after arriving aboard a coast guard boat at Malaga's harbour on June 9, 2018, after an inflatable boat carrying 67 men, 1 women and 1 child was rescued by the Spanish coast guard off the Spanish coast. / AFP PHOTO/JORGE GUERRERO
ROME, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The United States Naval vessel Trenton remained at sea Friday awaiting a permission to land in Italy with at least 40 migrants whose lives were saved when they were rescued from their sinking boat off the coast of Libya.
The fate of Trenton is the latest chapter in Italy's new stance on migrant and refugee arrivals in the country. In the last week, the Aquarius, a ship operated by two non-governmental rescue groups was turned away with 629 on board. The Diciotti, an Italian Coast Guard ship with more than 900 refugees on board, was allowed to land in part because it was an Italian ship.
The Trenton, which is based in Italy, said in a statement that it picked up the refugees Wednesday according to standard maritime protocol. According to a statement from the captain of the ship, the 35 men and five woman are from 11 different African countries. The group includes four unaccompanied minors.
In an emailed statement, Italy said its policy of turning away vessels carrying migrants had not changed, though the statement did not mention the Trenton by name.
The new Italian government was forged on a political platform promising a tough approach on irregular immigration, and a stop in the reception of migrants and refugees.
