On June 17, 2021, the Swiss National Council voted against implementing a returns fee for migrants. The proposed fee would have required migrants who are denied asylum or whose asylum status is revoked to pay for their own deportation. The proposal was put forward by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and was met with opposition from other political parties and human rights groups.
The SVP argued that the returns fee would discourage migrants from coming to Switzerland and would save taxpayers money. They claimed that migrants who are denied asylum or have their status revoked should be responsible for the cost of their deportation, rather than Swiss taxpayers.
However, opponents of the proposal argued that the returns fee would be unfair and discriminatory. They pointed out that many migrants who are denied asylum or have their status revoked are already in a vulnerable position and may not have the financial means to pay for their own deportation. They also argued that the returns fee would not necessarily save taxpayers money, as the cost of enforcing the fee could be significant.
The Swiss National Council ultimately voted against the returns fee by a margin of 97 to 93. The decision was welcomed by human rights groups, who argued that the returns fee would have violated Switzerland’s obligations under international law to protect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
Switzerland has a long history of accepting refugees and asylum seekers, and is known for its humanitarian approach to migration. However, in recent years, there has been growing concern among some Swiss politicians and citizens about the number of migrants coming to the country. The SVP, in particular, has been vocal in its opposition to migration and has called for stricter controls on who is allowed to enter Switzerland.
The debate over the returns fee highlights the ongoing tension in Switzerland between those who believe that the country should continue to welcome refugees and asylum seekers, and those who believe that migration should be more tightly controlled. While the returns fee proposal was ultimately rejected, it is likely that the issue of migration will continue to be a contentious one in Switzerland for years to come.
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- Source: Plato Data Intelligence.