Switzerland is doing well in terms of asylum, says Beat Jans

(Keystone-ATS) Instrumentalizing asylum “brings nothing to anyone”, said the federal councilor in charge of the file, Beat Jans, in the press on Saturday. In European comparison, Switzerland is doing well and is even clearly ahead on several issues, he adds.

“Asylum figures [en Suisse, ndlr] are decreasing: less 40% of requests in September year-on-year. As well as pending cases: less 25% in one year. Despite this, the number of returns continues to increase,” lists the Swiss Minister of Justice and Police in an interview broadcast on Saturday by the newspapers of the Tamedia press group.

The introduction of a 24-hour procedure works and there are significantly fewer incidents in the asylum centers, continues the Basel socialist, emphasizing that the security situation in the federal centers for asylum seekers in Boudry (NE ) and Chiasso (TI) “improved”. He further notes that the number of border arrests has fallen by half compared to last year.

Asked about the outsourcing of asylum procedures in Albania put in place by Rome, Mr. Jans notes that this mechanism gives rise to complex legal questions. “Italy must repatriate all asylum cases rejected in Albania, if it does not want these centers to be overloaded […] Furthermore, an Italian court recently ruled that the first twelve asylum seekers cannot be detained in Albania and must return to Italy.”

Mascioli “the man for the job”

The head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police rejects criticism of the choice of the new Secretary of State for Migration. Vincenzo Mascioli has the experience to take on this challenge, “as he has proven with very good results in the past”, explains Mr Jans. “I am convinced that he is the man for the job.”

The appointment of Mr. Mascioli on Wednesday was strongly criticized by the UDC and the PLR. The 54-year-old from Zurich has been responsible for Switzerland’s deportation policy for several years as vice-director of the Migration Secretariat (SEM).

“Only the facts interest me,” sweeps away the socialist federal councilor. “The population, on the left and the right, is asking us to find solutions that work.”