Own goal of left-wing lawyers: Only Swiss are allowed to beg in Basel

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Foreigners will soon no longer be allowed to beg in Basel – anyone who begs in the city of Basel without a residence permit will be sent away. Destitute people from EU and EFTA countries who only came to Switzerland to beg do not meet the entry requirements, according to a ruling by the Federal Supreme Court. Practice in the canton has been adjusted accordingly, the Basel Justice and Security Department (JSD) reported on Friday.

Based on case law, the persons involved can be expelled from the migration office. Basel-Stadt has so far interpreted this jurisprudence differently and less restrictively than other cantons, says a JSD spokesperson when asked by the Keystone-SDA news agency.

Federal court decision with side effects

However, following a federal court ruling dated March 13, 2023, the handle has been modified. The canton has coordinated this with other cities and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).

The said judgment of the Federal Supreme Court relates to a complaint against the Basel begging ban that was introduced in September 2021. The canton’s new practice, however, has nothing to do with the ban on begging, but with the fact that the verdict has laid down black and white rules on the whereabouts of the beggars, says the JSD spokesman.

Pursuant to the ruling, beggars from EU and EFTA countries who have not entered the country as an employee, self-employed person or tourist must be regarded as illegally present persons.

Particularly ironic: with the indictment against the begging ban, the “Democratic Lawyers” – a group of left-wing lawyers – actually wanted to improve the conditions for beggars.

Foreigners need money or work

According to the agreement on the free movement of persons, the person concerned must have sufficient financial resources to remain in Switzerland or to have a job. If this is not the case, people are obliged to leave Switzerland, the JSD writes.

Therefore, in the future, the cantonal police will verbally ask beggars to leave the country during identity checks. Only if they do not comply with this request will the persons concerned be deported by order of the migration office, the JSD continues. The police will carry out the adapted practice “with a sense of proportion”. (SDA/sq)

Source:Blick