A proposition put forward by the Swiss people’s party (UDC/SVP) to strip asylum from those travelling to their home country was accepted by 129 members of the National Council and rejected by 57. The UDC argued that returning home for a holiday or to visit parents proves the refugee is not threatened or persecuted there […]
Drop in emergency benefits paid to asylum seekers in Switzerland
In 2017, 8,499 asylum seekers in Switzerland were given emergency financial assistance costing CHF 64 million, according to Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). For new asylum seekers, emergency financial support lasted an average of 137 days. The total number receiving emergency financial assistance fell by 18% compared to 2016. The cost was also down […]
Asylum demands down 30 percent in Switzerland
20 Minutes. Switzerland received 27,207 requests for asylum in 2016, 31% fewer than the year before. In 2017, The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) expects around 24,500. The decline is related to the partial closure of the migration route through the Balkans, said SEM, particularly towards the end of the year. The number in December […]
One refugee’s Swiss story
Dersim Avdar came to Switzerland as a refugee 22 years ago. After completing a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at the University of St. Gallen, including studies in Madrid and Beijing, he now works in the investment industry in Zurich. Evangeline de Macedo interviewed him to get his story. When did you come to Switzerland? […]
Big change in the number of asylum requests in Switzerland
Switzerland’s administration says migration remains volatile and unpredictable. Making reliable forecasts for 2016 is impossible given the number of hard to influence factors impacting on migration routes. The first quarter of 2016 saw 8,315 asylum requests in Switzerland, around 45% fewer than the final quarter of 2015. The 1992 requests in March were down almost […]
Swiss asylum requests dropped in January
Statistics released today show the number of asylum requests fell by nearly a quarter in January, compared to December. A total of 3,618 applications were lodged during the month. The largest number, 1,224, came from Afghanistan, followed by Syria (488), Iraq (367) and Eritrea (233). The Swiss State Secretariat of Migration said that numbers typically drop during […]
Swiss vote to tighten asylum rules on track for June
Le Matin. Changes to the laws around asylum in Switzerland are currently working their way through Switzerland’s parliament. The Swiss Peoples Party (UDC / SVP) does not like some of the changes and has now collected enough signatures to launch a referendum against them. The controversial changes include free legal assistance and new powers that will […]
Number of asylum seekers up in Switzerland
Tribune de Genève. The number of people seeking refuge in Switzerland climbed in November compared to October according to the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration SEM. According to recent statistics, November arrivals increased to 5,691, 941 more than in October 2015. While the number from Eritrea dropped substantially, those from Syria and Afghanistan went up. […]
Airlines to face big fines for transporting illegal immigrants
Le Matin. Airlines that bring foreigners to Switzerland without valid travel documents, will be fined under new rules from 1 October 2015. The new rules, which were ratified by the Swiss federal council on 2 September 2015, are designed to reduce the number of asylum requests. The new measures apply to all flights landing in […]
Fewer migrants expected in Switzerland in second half of 2015
More refugees are arriving at Switzerland’s Eastern borders daily, yet Switzerland is not the primary destination for refugees travelling via the Balkans. According to the State Secretariat for Migration, the number of people seeking Swiss asylum is even expected to drop in the second half of the year. The State Secretariat for Migration projects that […]
