What is it about? At the beginning of February, the Neuchâtel cantonal government informed the Federal Council that it wanted to terminate the agreement for the Boudry federal asylum center early if there were no improvements. The population of the community is reaching its limits due to many difficult incidents. Justice Minister Beat Jans has now announced that “the cantons and the federal government want to re-discuss the key parameters of asylum policy”. On Tuesday, Jans presented tightening measures in the asylum area during a visit to the federal asylum center in Chiasso.
What plans does Beat Jans have for asylum policy? From April onwards, a 24-hour procedure will apply throughout Switzerland: within this period, the essential clarifications should be carried out for people who have little prospect of asylum. When it comes to “intensive offenders”, i.e. (often rejected) asylum seekers who have committed multiple criminal offenses, the federal government and the cantons should now work together through “case management” to ensure that no further offenses are committed – for example with the help of administrative detention. In Ticino, unaccompanied 16 and 17 year olds are now being taught and job percentages are being created for employment programs.
What is new compared to the asylum policy under Baume-Schneider? The 24-hour procedure was already planned under the EJPD predecessor Baume-Schneider and tested as a pilot project in Zurich. The other suggestions, such as case management, are new. Baume-Schneider was also sometimes accused of not reacting quickly enough in asylum policy. Beat Jans apparently doesn’t want to burden himself with this criticism. At least Jans is making good progress with announcements, almost two months after taking office.
What are federal asylum centers responsible for? There are six asylum regions in Switzerland. Each has a federal asylum center with a procedural function and several other federal asylum centers. For those with procedural functions, the asylum applications are submitted, examined and the Secretariat for Migration (SEM) decides – and if possible in an accelerated procedure, i.e. in a maximum of 140 days. The asylum centers without a procedural function are for people who usually have to leave Switzerland again after a short time, for example because of a rejected asylum application.
How many federal asylum centers are there in total? In addition to the six federal asylum centers with procedural functions, there are 13 other federal asylum centers. There are also two positions at Geneva and Zurich airports. Finally, there is a “special center” for asylum seekers who pose a significant threat to public safety and order. A second such center is planned in German-speaking Switzerland.
How big can federal asylum centers be? A federal asylum center should have space for at least 250 residents. However, criticism came from the canton of Neuchâtel that the Boudry center with 480 places was too big. In the last two years, over 7,000 asylum seekers have passed through the center, out of a population of 6,000 people. According to the NZZ The SEM considers downsizing the center to be of little use. It relies on accelerated asylum procedures in a few but large asylum centers.