The measure forms part of a wider security bill that is due to go before the lower house of parliament for final approval this week, having already passed the upper chamber following a contentious debate.

Under the proposals, the government has allocated €246,000 (£214,000) this year to fund payments to lawyers who assist foreign clients in agreeing to voluntary repatriation. Funding is expected to increase significantly, with allocations set to almost double in 2027 and 2028.

Lawyers would only receive the payment once the individual has returned to their home country. While the legislation does not specify the size of the bonus, Italian media reports estimate it at around €615 per case.

The bill also includes provisions to remove access to state-funded legal aid for migrants seeking to challenge deportation orders, further intensifying concern among legal bodies.

The proposals have triggered a renewed confrontation between the government and members of the legal profession, coming just weeks after the administration was defeated in a referendum on judicial reforms.

Italy’s national bar council said it had not been consulted on the measure and called on parliament to withdraw it. The Union of Italian Criminal Chambers (UCPI) said the plan was “incompatible” with the constitution, while the National Magistrates’ Association (ANM) said it was “dismayed” by the development.

Riccardo Magi, leader of the Più Europa party, criticised the proposal in stark terms, saying it amounted to “basically a wild west-style bounty” in which “those who should protect the rights of foreign citizens are financially incentivised not to do so”.