Recognized refugees who return to their home countries will lose their refugee status in Switzerland, but some exceptions will still be allowed, parliament has decided.
The House of Representatives had voted narrowly at the end of September for an automatic withdrawal of refugee status. However, on Wednesday it approved by 199 votes to 66 a move by the Senate to allow exceptions if the refugee could show that they were obliged to return to the country of origin.
This enshrines into law rules that already exist, reversing the burden of proof.
Only the conservative right Swiss People’s Party voted against any exceptions. “Swiss asylum policy needs to be guaranteed a minimum of credibility,” argued parliamentarian Jean-Luc Addor. Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga commented that to outlaw any exceptions would be “inhumane”.
The two houses of parliament have already agreed measures with regard to refugees who travel to countries bordering their own. To avoid, for example, Eritreans travelling back home via Ethiopia, the authorities can ban travel to certain countries for all refugees of a given origin but authorize exceptions.
More
More
Those stripped of refugee status increase by more than a third
This content was published on
On Saturday, an SEM spokesperson confirmed the figures published by Schweiz am Wochenende. The refugees concerned had visited their country of origin despite claiming they were at risk there. Vietnamese nationals (71 individuals) accounted for the largest group of withdrawals, followed by Iraqis (60) and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (30). The increase by 86…
Switzerland will deliver rubble removal equipment to Ukraine
This content was published on
Thirty rubble removal machines and thirty fire-fighting pumps: this is the equipment that Switzerland will be delivering to the Ukraine in the next few days. The total value of these goods is 5.6 million Swiss francs.
A third of Swiss residents plan to change health insurers
This content was published on
After the announced sharp increase in premiums for 2025, about one in three people would be considering changing health insurance companies.
Swiss-led study unravels tree growth and longevity
This content was published on
Trees reach old age using different strategies. This is shown by a Swiss-led research team with over 100 scientists from all over the world in a new study, for which they analyzed trees that live to be over three thousand years old.
This content was published on
The man who injured three children on Tuesday has been detained in pre-trial custody after a request by the public prosecutor’s office.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Accelerated asylum procedures to take effect in 2019
This content was published on
A revised order on the operation of federal asylum centres, which now sets a maximum stay of 140 days, will enter into force on March 1.
This content was published on
After a spike in 2016, asylum applications in Switzerland have been in steady decline. Migrants are seeking now seeking alternative routes.
This content was published on
The government’s integration packages for refugees in Switzerland are being used to good effect, but some support measures could be improved.
Switzerland could send back 3,200 rejected Eritrean asylum seekers
This content was published on
In August 2017, the Federal Administrative Court ruled that Eritrean nationals who had performed their compulsory military service in their country should not expect to be re-conscripted into the army or face criminal punishment when they return home. The court therefore considered that a return to Eritrea “cannot generally be considered as unenforceable”. Because the…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.