No shelter for asylum seekers who misbehave

The government has approved stricter sanctions for asylum seekers that behave badly. This now enables Fedasil, for example, to permanently revoke the right to shelter of asylum seekers if they commit serious violations and ignore the regulations of their shelter. “A big step forwards,” State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken remarks.

Until now, Fedasil could only expel troublemakers among asylum seekers from a shelter for one month. “Unfortunately, 2015 was tainted by fighting in our asylum centres. That led to 62 temporary expulsions,” Theo Francken relates. “Trouble in our centres is impermissible, because the genuine refugees, including many families with small children, are the victims of this. Those people are fleeing war and persecution. We must be able to provide them shelter where rest, safety and respect are guaranteed at all times.”