Italian lawmakers approved the controversial law that makes illegal immigration punishable and allows mayors to form civilian patrols to control crime in cities and small towns.

The law was approved with 157 votes against 124 in the Senate. The Lower House had already approved the law in May.

The new law states that a person found with irregularities concerning their immigration can be held at a centre for up to three times more time than before.

The "security law" has received strong criticisms from the Catholic Church and from organizations dedicated to defending human rights because they consider that it criminalizes immigration.

The law will not help Italians fight crime and it "seriously violates civil rights of immigrants who maintain thousands of businesses and jobs," said Anna Fonocchiaro, Democratic Party Senator.