Belgian plan for ICE-style immigration raids on homes criticised as ‘law of fear’
Summary
Belgian lawmakers approved a law allowing police to enter homes to detain people without legal residency, if an investigating judge authorizes the entry. The law is due to take effect next spring and has drawn criticism from rights groups and legal professionals, who say it could undermine privacy and lack clear safeguards.Key Facts
- The law lets Belgium’s immigration office ask an investigating judge for permission to enter a residence believed to house someone without legal status.
- With a warrant, police may enter without consent between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., detain people and search for identity documents.
- The law can apply to homes where migrants are staying with friends or family, and children could be present during raids.
- Belgian officials say the measures target people denied asylum who have ignored orders to leave and are considered a threat to public order or national security.
- More than 60 protests took place in Belgium before Parliament approved the law.
- Amnesty International and other rights groups say the law is vague about what counts as a public threat and does not provide a way to appeal decisions.
- Critics say the law risks treating lack of legal status as criminality and compare the proposed raids with immigration enforcement in the United States.
- The article says similar measures exist in the Netherlands and Germany, and that a recently approved EU returns regulation includes comparable provisions.
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