Due to the large number of new migrants arriving by sea, Italy is not taking back so-called Dublin refugees for the time being. Switzerland is therefore currently unable to deport 184 people to its southern neighbor, the “NZZ am Sonntag” reports. Including 152 asylum seekers and 32 people illegally residing in Switzerland.
Italy informed the Dublin states of a temporary suspension of Dublin transfers on December 5, according to the Secretariat of State for Migration (SEM). The reason is the many refugees who are currently coming to Italy by sea. The capacities at the first reception are therefore temporarily overloaded.
Dublin refugees are people who have applied for asylum in Switzerland, but for whom Italy would be responsible as a country of entry under the Dublin Agreement.
Swiss asylum system under attack
According to the SEM, Switzerland took note of the information from Italy and canceled some transfers that had already been prepared at short notice. The authority assumes that “Italy will soon be able to meet its obligations under the Dublin system again”. Transfers based on the bilateral readmission agreement between Switzerland and Italy are not covered by the measure.
For the cantons, Italy’s step comes at a time when they are already reaching their limits when it comes to the reception of the many asylum seekers. “These 184 people block scarce capacities that we prefer to use for those seeking protection who can stay here longer,” Florian Düblin, secretary general of the Conference of Cantonal Directors of Justice and Police, said in the newspaper report.
Stricter asylum course in Italy
The new Italian government led by right-wing politician Giorgia Meloni (45) has been tightening the screw on migrants since taking power in October. Rescue ships were denied landings or forced to sail to distant ports. New rules are planned to make sea rescue operations more difficult in general. (SDA/lha)