"Managing them has become difficult, impossible. They're always angry, aggressive, they don't respect any rules, they raise their hands, they spit, they break whatever they find, they go out at night despite the ban. Yes, we're desperate and often afraid, we feel alone." Strong words uttered, with difficulty and regret, by Bonaria Urru, legal representative of the cooperative that manages the center for migrant minors on Via Toscana in Cabras . In recent weeks, reports of theft, harassment, and other inappropriate behavior by some migrants towards citizens have increased. This is why the mayor of Cabras, three days ago, asked the prefect to close the facility where 17 minors currently live.

But the managers don't see it that way, despite the many challenges they face every day. Bonaria Urru makes no secret of the fact that many of the complaints filed at the Carabinieri station come from them. "We can't ignore it, especially because if we don't inform the police of what's happening inside the facility, no one can take action. I absolutely don't want to justify certain behaviors, but it's fair to point out that some of these kids, who come from difficult backgrounds, stealing is normal for them, as is fighting among themselves. Attacking people and starting fights are behaviors they've been accustomed to since they were born. They're the ones who tell us this themselves. Many eat with their hands and don't want to learn good manners. A few days ago, a kid grabbed the fire extinguisher and set it off. We were terrified he'd hurt someone else. These are kids with serious issues. I myself spent several hours in the hospital because one of them was having psychiatric problems. In recent months, we decided to pay a security guard to prevent them from leaving after 9:30 PM, the established time limit. It's also for their own protection. But nothing, they leave anyway, it's impossible to keep them inside, we're afraid of their reactions."

Bonaria Urru faces everyday challenges: "These kids need a strong, targeted, and long-term educational process. The center we run can't offer this type of service; it's a transitional facility. In our case, for example, there are five kids with serious problems who should be treated individually by qualified professionals and educators. The staff at the center—about twenty educators, mediators, translators, and various assistants—aren't enough. This is precisely what I ask of the institutions: individual, targeted assistance. We support welcoming them, but if we have to welcome them, we need the tools to educate them. The other option is transfer to other facilities. Not closing the center. Because there are also good kids inside who respect the rules. I can't count the emails we've sent to the city's social services, but the response is always the same: 'There are no suitable facilities for transfer.' I hope someone realizes that the situation has gotten out of hand."