The Council of States refuses to tighten up family reunification

Foreigners admitted provisionally must be able to bring their families to Switzerland. Unlike the National, the Council of States refused on Wednesday by 20 votes to 18 and 4 abstentions a motion from the UDC after a lively debate.

The text by Esther Friedli (UDC/SG) wanted to prohibit family reunification for foreigners admitted to Switzerland on a temporary basis. Many cantons report that this form of immigration has increased significantly in recent times and it is causing increasing problems, the senator said in her motion.

According to current case law, people admitted provisionally, who are subject to a removal decision, can submit an application for family reunification already after two years. Every year, this system allows many immigrants to arrive in Switzerland, even though they should not have the right to stay here, believes the St. Galloise.

Last September, the National Council accepted an identical motion from the UDC by 105 votes to 74. The Council of States sent the texts back to it in committee.

Already strict conditions

The conditions for obtaining family reunification for people temporarily admitted are already very restrictive. We cannot therefore consider that the status of provisional admission is too attractive at the moment or that the possibility of family reunification encourages people who do not integrate well in Switzerland to stay there, countered Stefan Engler ( Center/GR) for the commission.

The only effect of the motion is to make some families insecure in Switzerland. We are talking about around a hundred people on average per year who join their spouse, 94% of whom are women and children, criticized Pierre-Yves Maillard (PS/VD).

Call to fathers

The motion is clear: the Federal Council should ensure that no one among those temporarily admitted can bring their families. This completely contravenes the Constitution, launched Justice Minister Beat Jans.

Currently, the rules are already strict. Switzerland is already more severe than many European countries. And to appeal to the fathers in the room: “is there a greater motivation to integrate into Switzerland and have a job than to bring your family?”

He won his case. The Chamber also buried the identical text of the UDC supported by the National.

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