“We are in the biggest refugee crisis since World War II”

A stone’s throw from the Federal Asylum Center on Duttweilerstrasse in Zurich, the new head of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), Christine Schraner Burgener (59), receives an interview in a windowless room. The building that the SEM uses for interrogations in the asylum procedure is currently being renovated. An employee had previously informed us that it would be made more earthquake resistant. But the SEM is already being shaken up today. Within a short period of time, the agency had to adjust the asylum forecasts for 2022 upwards. In addition, there are those seeking protection from the Ukraine, who may return to Switzerland in greater numbers by the winter. There are major challenges that Schraner Burgener, State Secretary for Migration since the beginning of this year, has to face.

Blick: Mrs. Schraner Burgener, there is a shortage of beds in the asylum seekers’ centers. They must extradite the asylum seekers to the cantons more quickly. What went wrong?
Christine Schraner Burgener: Nothing went wrong. In other countries refugees have to sleep outside or in tents, in our country not. Switzerland has weathered the crisis in Ukraine well. We warned that this situation could arise in the fall. That was not a black painting. By the end of the year, we could have 80,000 to 120,000 people seeking protection in Ukraine. And we also expect up to 24,000 applications from asylum seekers. These numbers are huge. We are in the worst refugee crisis since World War II.

And now some cantons whine.
I don’t feel that way. I am in constant contact with the cantons. It is a great challenge for them and for us to give so many people a roof over their heads. I also understand that if the cantons are not happy at first, we temporarily allocate more people to them. But we have no choice. Our federal asylum centers are full, housing about 9,000 people. However, many cantons have worked very well in recent months and are well prepared. We at the SEM have been in contact with the army for months and have been able to prepare several multipurpose rooms for the accommodation of asylum seekers.

Are these shelters enough for the military?
no I am always on the cautious side, because you have to be well prepared for all possible developments. Fortunately, the canton of Obwalden has promised us another 270 beds on Faith Mountain and there are discussions about additional accommodation. The army and the cantons are very cooperative. We are very grateful.

They transfer people to the cantons who have received a negative asylum decision, that is, who have to leave the country. The cantons have to make sure they leave. Do you run a Schwarzpeterspiel?
not really! Enforcement of evictions has always been a joint task of the federal government and the cantons. We are moving them earlier now because we need the places for newly arrived asylum seekers. And we probably cannot avoid sending asylum seekers to the cantons from next week, whose procedures have not yet been completed. Only together can we face this crisis.

So they are desperately looking for beds, but also for staff.
Yes, that challenges us, but so do the cantons. Experience shows that there should be fewer registrations in December. When it gets colder, the refugee route through the Balkans becomes calmer. On the other hand, the difficult energy supply in Ukraine could allow more people to come to us from there. It is therefore uncertain whether the situation will actually improve in winter.

What are the costs?
I have applied for an additional loan of CHF 1.2 billion. If, in the winter, many more people seeking protection from Ukraine come to us, we will have to go back to the Federal Council for an extra loan.

Has S status worked for Ukrainians?
In each case. If we had had to carry out asylum procedures for the 65,000 people who now have protection status, the system would have imploded. Therefore, S status is perfect for an impending crisis, involving displaced persons who want to return to their homes when the situation allows.

So you want to continue with S status?
Yes. Federal councilor Karin Keller-Sutter has made it clear that it will continue for the time being. However, the government will soon decide whether it will continue to pay the CHF 3,000 that the cantons receive for each person with protection status S. She should be doing that in the coming weeks.

In contrast to the S status, the SEM must clarify with the asylum seekers whether they are really personally threatened. You can handle 1800 requests per month, but there are many more to come. That’s why you need staff. Is there a risk that unqualified people will now be hired?
No, we only hire employees who are qualified for this job. However, in order to process asylum applications, we must first train them. This will take up to six months.

It is heard that in many centers there are problems with asylum seekers. Is that correct?
The more people are together in a small space, the greater the chance of conflict. The asylum seekers in our centers have often been unemployed for years and some suffer from psychological problems or drug addiction. We ensure that problem groups are separated as much as possible. Since the procedures have been restructured, we can give asylum seekers certainty within 75 days on average whether they can stay in Switzerland or leave the country.

Are these speedy procedures the reason why we have fewer people in the asylum system than Austria?
Yes, of course. Every week, about 800 migrants from Austria arrive at Buchs in St. Gallen. Almost everyone wants to travel further, only a few apply for asylum. Apparently they think they have more chances if they apply for asylum in Germany, France or Great Britain.

Can’t these migrants just be put back on the train to Vienna?
They would come back to us on the next train. But of course we don’t want this migration. That is why Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter and Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner have adopted an action plan to curb irregular migration.

It’s about Serbia.
No, also about the cooperation between Switzerland and Austria. For example, the plan provides for joint patrols with Austria, cross-border searches and other matters.

Isn’t there such a thing? And you can’t send people back either? Does Switzerland have more problems with Austria than with refugees?
No, Austria is a reliable partner. But Austria has a problem with those countries that open the gates to the Schengen area, such as Serbia. Switzerland is also affected by this. Federal Councilor Keller-Sutter knocked on the table at a European meeting in Luxembourg and mentioned the problems with visa-free travel – and received widespread acclaim.

And the success?
The EU quickly sought talks with Serbia. And Serbia acted immediately. Burundi has withdrawn its visa waiver. This makes it more difficult for Burundian people to enter the Schengen area. Things are also likely to change in Tunisia.

Let’s come to you: People were surprised when a diplomat was appointed to the top of the SEM. What do you bring from your previous activities that you now want to bring to the asylum system?
I took a nice job at the SEM and met highly motivated and committed employees. That’s why I don’t need to change anything here. I’ve been through crises myself. In my previous professional life I have experienced and endured more than enough crises. Fortunately, I was spared such private events. But yes, of course I am always interested in geopolitical developments.

When you look at the bottlenecks, are you currently looking at Iran?
Yes, but I also look further, to Taiwan. At this point, I am less concerned that the Iranian developments will have an impact on the SEM. In the case of Taiwan, however, the question arises as to what geopolitical consequences an escalation would have for countries like Switzerland offering their good offices.

As is known, you yourself have taken in a woman from the Ukraine. Is this going well?
About 40 percent of those seeking protection from Ukraine are still received by private individuals. I am very pleased with the continued solidarity of the Swiss people. For me and my family it is different than for people where protection seekers live in the same apartment. The young woman lives with us in a separate apartment next door. Everyone is for themselves, but they share something. It was her birthday recently. I gave her a blue suit and yellow roses. When I rang her doorbell with a candle on a cake and the presents, she cried. At such a moment the war in Ukraine is suddenly very close.