Parliament backs tougher asylum law

Forcible repatriation awaits failed asylum seekers Keystone

The Senate has approved measures aimed at tightening the Swiss law on asylum and making the country less attractive to illegal immigrants.

The new legislation, which has already passed the other parliamentary chamber – the House of Representatives – has been sharply criticised by churches and refugee organisations.

On Thursday, the Senate voted by 25 to 11 to extend an existing ban on welfare benefits to all those whose asylum requests have been turned down, including those going through the appeals process.

The smaller parliamentary chamber also adopted a proposal that would allow the authorities to deny emergency aid to those who refuse to leave the country and to double the period during which they can be held in detention.

At present, failed asylum seekers and those awaiting deportation are eligible for emergency aid.

Papers required

The bill now has to return to the House of Representatives where it will be voted on a second time.

If it becomes law, asylum requests will no longer be considered if the applicant is not in possession of a passport or identity papers and cannot offer an adequate explanation as to the reason why.

But applications will be considered in cases where there are reasonable grounds to believe the would-be asylum seeker faces persecution at home.

Justice Minister Christoph Blocher argued that the social assistance provided by Switzerland had proved too great an incentive to rejected asylum seekers to remain in the country.

“The aim is to reduce Switzerland’s attractiveness to those seeking asylum without due cause,” said Blocher.

In a heated debate, centre-left parties argued that some of the proposals went against the constitution and would be counterproductive, leading rejected asylum seekers to simply disappear underground.

Also on Thursday, the Senate approved the revised law on foreigners, which will make it harder for those with temporary residence permits to bring family members into the country.

The law also envisages prison sentences for those who force their children or relatives into arranged marriages.

swissinfo with agencies

Key facts

In 2004 there were 14,250 asylum requests in Switzerland.
This marked a drop of 32% compared with 2003.
In 2004, 1,550 applications were successful (1,640 in 2003.)
10,080 applications were rejected.