"This book provides clarity on the complex challenges of sea migration by offering a rule of law reading of the question, drawing on both black letter law and empirical data. This allows it to broaden the perspective of existing scholarship. It takes as its central case study the experience of Italy, exploring the legal issues in play there and its institutional practices and policies. It goes on look at the wider EU experience, particularly at the problems common to southern EU states. The book allows lawyers, political scientists and policymakers to truly engage with the challenges sea migration poses today"--