The Federal Government has approved an initial blueprint for the setting of a new Federal Migration Department. The new department will bring together all the various migration services.
Government approves blueprint to bring migration services together in one department
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Currently, the Aliens Office falls entirely under the Department of the Interior. However, the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) and the Council for Alien Law Litigation do not. The asylum agency Fedasil is a separate agency, while assessing the age of foreign nationals that claim to be minors falls under the Justice Department’s remit.
The Federal Minister responsible for asylum and migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt (Flemish nationalist) says that the fragmentation of services across various departments “is currently costing us time and energy that we cannot afford, given the high pressure from migration. “By better coordinating everything and creating a clear chain, we are turning a fragmented system into a coherent one.”
Ms Van Bossuyt presented a blueprint for the new department to the Federal Cabinet on Friday and it was given green light.
The department will be made up of 4 general directorates (DGs) There are “Protection”, “Access and Residence”, “Reception” and “Return”. The Council for Alien Law Litigation will be attached to the department as an independent administrative court.
Two units will be also established to offer support to all 4 DGs. One will be for vulnerable persons, such as unaccompanied minors and the other will be for case that involve security issues, for example, radicalisation or human trafficking.
Ms Van Bossuyt believes that the asylum procedure will run more smoothly with the new department thanks to efficiency gains. “It’s more humane, saves on reception costs and ensures that more will be returned”.