Between emergency and integration: a longitudinal study of asylum seekers in Italy

In the last decade, Italy has been affected by significant flows of migration for humanitarian reasons. The presence of asylum seekers and refugees has long been considered temporary in Italy. Today, almost ten years after the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean, it is clear that the issue of asylum is also a question of integration. In fact, a significant number of asylum seekers have started themselves to integrate. Consequently, it is essential focus on the integration paths of asylum seekers. The paper, based on the data of residence permits, aims to a better understanding of the trajectories of asylum seekers and refugees in Italy. The study highlights – using a cohort longitudinal approach - the dynamics that have affected these peculiar flows of migrants during the last decade (especially territorial mobility, changes of status).