Number of criminal illegal immigrants sent back reaches record high

Never have there been so many criminal illegal immigrants deported from Belgium in a single month, as there were in May: no less than 168 detainees without legal residence status were sent back to their country of origin. “And if the prison guards hadn’t been on strike, it would have been more,” State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken comments. By way of comparison: the monthly average used to be 50 repatriations, and it currently stands at 120. “This demonstrates that the policy is working and change is definitely felt,” Theo Francken asserts. “This counts for our jails as well, where this government is finally truly tackling the overpopulation problem.”

A staggering one in three inmates is, after all, an illegal immigrant. In absolute figures, we easily arrive at 3,361 inmates who don’t possess the right papers. Since he took office in October 2014, Theo Francken has prioritised sending as many of those inmates as possible back to their home country. In 2014 this totalled 625, but last year this number had already leapt to 1,437. And despite the strikes, another 637 inmates have been repatriated during the first five months of this year; that is more than all of 2014 combined.

Well thought-out measures

Naturally those record figures are no coincidence: they are the result of carefully considered policy measures. For example, the present government recently entered into a far-reaching partnership agreement with the Moroccan government, that must facilitate the exchange and checking of electronic fingerprints. This currently results in more rapid identification and repatriation of criminal illegal immigrants from Morocco. With over 500 inmates without a legal residence status, Moroccans comprise a significant target group within our inmate population. Along with Romanians and Albanians, they are expelled most frequently.

The modified legislation also hasn’t failed to bear fruit. For example, among others it facilitates the start of work on return paperwork six months prior to an inmate’s release. Previously this was set at two months. “Increasing that term means sentenced illegals immigrants can depart from prison more quickly,” Theo Francken explains. “It also means we can do more repatriations directly from prison.”

Finally, the Secretary of State also refers to the stricter conditions set for early release. For example, an inmate without residence permit can only be released early if he or she effectively leaves the country. “Alternative punishments are aimed at reintegration of the inmate in our society,” Theo Francken explains. “It then goes without saying that people without a residence permit are excluded from this. Previously they could receive an electronic anklet or carry out community service, but now they’re only option is to board a plane. And whoever still returns to Belgium, must serve his or her entire prison sentence.” After all, an incoming travel ban has also been connected to the early release.