National Council committee wants to increase security around federal asylum centers
Published: Friday, Jun 28th 2024, 18:10
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Following security incidents in and around federal asylum centers, the Federal Council wants to regulate more clearly who may apply disciplinary measures and on what basis. The responsible National Council committee agrees with this in principle, but goes further on one point.
The National Council's Political Institutions Committee (SPK-N) is in agreement with most of the amendments to the Asylum Act with which the national government wants to improve the security of employees and asylum seekers. In the overall vote, the committee approved the bill by 14 votes to 10, as reported by the parliamentary services on Friday.
In order to create a clear basis for the operation of the federal asylum centers, the most important tasks of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) in these centers and at the airports are to be regulated in the Asylum Act. The law should explicitly state those areas in which the SEM may use police coercion or police measures to ensure security and order.
Nevertheless, the debate in the National Council during the fall session is likely to be lively. Representatives of various parliamentary groups have submitted minority motions as they believe the draft is unbalanced - for some too much in favor of asylum seekers, for others too much to their disadvantage.
A majority of the SPK-N voted in favour of a motion to extend the area around the federal asylum centers in which disciplinary measures can be taken against asylum seekers if their behaviour endangers public safety and order. This decision was reached by an extremely narrow margin of 13 votes to 12.
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