Italy's new interior minister draws outrage over remarks on irregular migrants

ROME, ITALY - NOVEMBER 8: Italy's new interior minister has drawn outrage from many segments of the country over his recent remarks about irregular migrants. During a meeting in Milano on Monday, Matteo Piantedosi defined migrants who are denied permission to disembark from humanitarian ships as “residual cargo” who do not need to be rescued. Piantedosi’s statement came after widespread criticism over Italy’s decision to permit only the most vulnerable migrants to disembark from charity rescue ships. Nearly 500 migrants disembarked in the Sicilian port of Catania over the weekend after being rescued by two vessels owned by non-governmental organizations. They had been traveling in jam-packed boats attempting to cross from North Africa to Europe. But nearly 250 migrants from the two ships were declined permission to disembark under orders of the new Italian government. Piantedosi called on the two NGO ships to leave the Italian port. Enrico Letta, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, decried the remarks by Piantedosi, saying they are "unacceptable.” (Footage by Valeria Ferraro/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)