A record backlog of asylum applications to be processed. “The government has lost control”

The backlog in the processing of asylum applications by the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) is reaching record highs. According to recent statistics from the Commissioner General’s office, it appears that the backlog increased from 20,086 to 21,202 cases in one month. Theo Francken: “That is an increase of about 6% in just one month. It appears more than ever that this government has lost control over its asylum policy.”

Statistics show that the number of asylum applications reached a record high in February 2024, with 2,804 new applications in that month alone. A total of 5,921 asylum applications have already been registered in 2024, an increase of 14% compared to the same period last year.

Historically high backlog

Not only is the number of applications alarmingly high, but the backlog in granting asylum decisions is also huge. More than 33,600 people are waiting for a decision on their asylum applications, with over 21,000 cases on the backlog list. Theo Francken: “From January to February, the backlog increased by about 6%. That is unprecedented. This means we have reached a historic high point. More than ever, the current policy of the federal government is inadequate to handle this crisis.”

Extremely long waiting list and people on the streets

In the meantime, 3,400 people must try to survive on the streets because the government is not providing shelter. That, too, is a sad record. Theo Francken: “This is a masterclass in how a left-wing government with Greens and Socialists has been involved in mismanagement for years. It is strange that the press is silent. If this had been under my administration, all those left-wing politicians and journalists would be screaming for my resignation.”

Failed “anti-Francken” policy

Moreover, the federal government has accumulated more than 9,000 convictions for violations of international law, an all-time record. “The federal government’s so-called ‘anti-Francken’ policy is clearly a failure. Never before has the situation been so serious, with the government clearly losing control of asylum policy,” Francken concludes.