Date: Wednesday, 04 April 2018
Turnaround in asylum policy with Eritrea: Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga arrives at a reception in the Pfalzkeller in St. Gallen. (March 28, 2018) Image: Gian Ehrenzeller / Keystone
This was concluded at the end of August 2017 that Eritrean nationals who have done their duty to return to their home country do not generally have to expect re-enlistment in the national service or punishment. A return to their home country was therefore not generally unreasonable.
Due to the fact that the federal authorities must, by law, regularly review all preliminary recordings, this judgment now also has an impact on asylum practice vis-à-vis Eritreans in Switzerland.
Each case is checked individually
Specifically, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) is currently reviewing the dossiers of 3200 of the total of 9400 provisional Eritreans. The letters to those affected state: "The SEM therefore intends to suspend your provisional admission and order the execution of the expulsion order."
SEM spokesman Martin Reichlin confirmed on Wednesday evening at the request of the news agency SDA corresponding information of the program "Rundschau" of Swiss television (SRF). He emphasizes that the persons concerned have the right to be heard. Every case will be checked individually.
U-turn in asylum policy
Just three years ago, Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga wanted to provisionally accept and protect almost all asylum-seeking Eritreans for humanitarian reasons. "It is unthinkable that Switzerland sends people back to a state of arbitrariness," said the Federal Councilor at that time.
"Ms. Sommaruga is overtaken by history. This blank check for the Eritreans was not tenable, "says FDP National Christian Wasserfallen to the review of the SEM in the" Rundschau ". "This is a paradigm shift, a milestone. To this day, people have always said they can not send anyone back, "says CVP President Gerhard Pfister, welcoming the harsher pace of Eritreans.
Criticism, however, comes from its own ranks. "I am very shocked by this letter and the high number of people affected. Eritrea will continue dictatorial. There is no constitution, "says the Aargau SP National Councilor Yvonne Feri. The decision was therefore "incomprehensible" for them.
«I live rather than illegals and sleep at the station»
But a forced return should not be so easy. Since Switzerland has no readmission agreement with the East African country, few will return home voluntarily.
"I'm not going back to Eritrea for sure. Rather, I live as illegals and sleep at the train station, »said a concerned Eritrean woman in the« Rundschau ». That's exactly what the fears of Yvonne Feri are. That many go underground or fall into emergency aid and stay in Switzerland without any prospects.
More on this evening in the Rundschau on SRF 1, 8:55 pm. (bee / SDA)
