Criminals to be refused asylum

The Federal Government has approved measures that will excluded those that have been convicted of a serious crime or pose a threat to national security from obtaining refugee status in Belgium.

The decision gives the asylum authorities more means to act against criminal asylum-seekers. Previously, the protected status an asylum-seeker enjoys could only be refused if a person was a war criminal, had committed crimes against humanity or fraud.

The Federal Secretary of State responsible for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken told the VRT that "The possibilities to withdraw the protected status from those that flagrantly abuse our hospitality were limited.”

"We should offer protection to those that really need it." However, criminals that pose a serious threat to our society and its citizens are not welcome here”, Mr Francken said.
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