Switzerland (joining Denmark) seizing assets from refugees to cover costs

[flamer84]

Refugees arriving in Switzerland have to turn over to the state any assets worth more than 1,000 Swiss francs (£690) to help pay for their upkeep, the broadcaster SRF has reported.

SRF’s 10 vor 10 news programme showed a receipt a Syrian refugee said he received from authorities when he had to turn over more than half the cash his family had left after paying traffickers to help them get to the neutral Alpine country.

It also showed an information sheet for refugees that stated: “If you have property worth more than 1,000 Swiss francs when you arrive at a reception centre you are required to give up these financial assets in return for a receipt.”

Stefan Frey, from refugee aid group Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe, was quoted as saying: “This is undignified ... This has to change.”

Swiss authorities rejected criticism of the practice, saying it was based on a decades-old law and only applied in a fraction of cases. Authorities also noted that the law called for asylum seekers and refugees to contribute where possible to the cost of processing their applications and providing social assistance.

According to the Swiss state secretariat for migration (SEM), the rule affected just 112 out of 45,000 refugees last year. An SEM spokeswoman told SRF: “If someone leaves voluntarily within seven months this person can get the money back and take it with them. Otherwise the money covers costs they generate.”

The SEM also said that jewellery and personal items were not taken from the refugees.

According to the SRF report, refugees who win the right to stay and work in Switzerland also have to surrender 10% of their pay for up to 10 years until they repay 15,000 Swiss francs in costs.

Denmark is amending a proposal to confiscate refugees’ possessions to pay for their stay. It plans to raise the amount they can keep after coming under fire from the United Nations refugee agency.

Several organisations, including the UN high commission for refugees, have censured the Nordic country for the proposal, as well as for others that would delay family reunification and make acquiring refugee and residence status more difficult.

Switzerland seizing assets from refugees to cover costs | World news | The Guardian

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

They just want them to make into beggars , and then similar treatment like Roma people

 

[CHD]

why dont they cover the expenses from the time when Europe was colonising half the world?
starting from the diamond on queens head to cover the expenses

 

[flamer84]

why dont they cover the expenses from the time when Europe was colonising half the world?
starting from the diamond on queens head to cover the expenses

Switzerland didn't colonise anybody,neither did Denmark.Try again.

 

[saiyan0321]

So basically a down payment where the difference is that if you leave early you get it back otherwise we will keep it. In a sense this is a legal robbing where already robbed, troubled refugees who had seen their families and friends get killed by either the regime or the terrorists or the freedom fighters are bow required to pay anything of value they might have...

Pretty hard to justify this considering the UN is supposed to actually pay refugee funding ...

The OIC should protest and offer to pay for their expenses along with the UN if need be bcz to be honest this is disgusting...

 

[Tshering22]

Switzerland didn't colonise anybody,neither did Denmark.Try again.

Denmark didn't colonize? You sir, are quite wrong.

The following are its colonizations:

1- Greenland.

2- Serampore and Tharangambadi in India.

3- Iceland.

4- St Thomas, St. Jan and St. Croix in Danish West Indies.

____

These were not full blown occupied zones but were monopolized trade zones established by Denmark.

I agree with you on Switzerland though.

Refugees arriving in Switzerland have to turn over to the state any assets worth more than 1,000 Swiss francs (£690) to help pay for their upkeep, the broadcaster SRF has reported.

SRF’s 10 vor 10 news programme showed a receipt a Syrian refugee said he received from authorities when he had to turn over more than half the cash his family had left after paying traffickers to help them get to the neutral Alpine country.

It also showed an information sheet for refugees that stated: “If you have property worth more than 1,000 Swiss francs when you arrive at a reception centre you are required to give up these financial assets in return for a receipt.”

Stefan Frey, from refugee aid group Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe, was quoted as saying: “This is undignified ... This has to change.”

Swiss authorities rejected criticism of the practice, saying it was based on a decades-old law and only applied in a fraction of cases. Authorities also noted that the law called for asylum seekers and refugees to contribute where possible to the cost of processing their applications and providing social assistance.

According to the Swiss state secretariat for migration (SEM), the rule affected just 112 out of 45,000 refugees last year. An SEM spokeswoman told SRF: “If someone leaves voluntarily within seven months this person can get the money back and take it with them. Otherwise the money covers costs they generate.”

The SEM also said that jewellery and personal items were not taken from the refugees.

According to the SRF report, refugees who win the right to stay and work in Switzerland also have to surrender 10% of their pay for up to 10 years until they repay 15,000 Swiss francs in costs.

Denmark is amending a proposal to confiscate refugees’ possessions to pay for their stay. It plans to raise the amount they can keep after coming under fire from the United Nations refugee agency.

Several organisations, including the UN high commission for refugees, have censured the Nordic country for the proposal, as well as for others that would delay family reunification and make acquiring refugee and residence status more difficult.

Switzerland seizing assets from refugees to cover costs | World news | The Guardian

Switzerland shouldn't allow crazy-@$$ loonies inside their country. Look what is happening in Germany, Australia, Sweden and hell even here in India (due to one ideology in refugees and non refugees alike).

 

[Lucky Breeze]

Switzerland didn't colonise anybody,

but you are behaving like them in your own country. And why don't you cover the cost with the black money, Switzerland known for.

 

[flamer84]

Denmark didn't colonize? You sir, are quite wrong.

The following are its colonizations:

1- Greenland.

2- Serampore and Tharangambadi in India.

3- Iceland.

4- St Thomas, St. Jan and St. Croix in Danish West Indies.

I doubt that some remote little islands or those 2 barren Arctic outposts are the reason of today's Denmark's prosperity.The people of Iceland are certainly not complaining about their former "colonial" master and they get by just fine.

but you are behaving like them in your own country. And why don't you cover the cost with the black money, Switzerland known for.

Because they cover the costs of their own people and they're under no obligation to pay for outsiders.Just because someone far away on this planet is rich,it doesn't mean it owes you something.

 

[Tshering22]

I doubt that some remote little islands or those 2 barren Arctic outposts are the reason of today's Denmark's prosperity.The people of Iceland are certainly not complaining about their former "colonial" master and they get by just fine.

Colonization was for resources. Simple.

It is not whether someone complains or not. You said they didn't colonize. Which was not the case.

Don't know about Icelanders or Greenlanders, but we certainly had a problem with colonizers using our resources to pay their debts and trade currencies.

 

[flamer84]

Colonization was for resources. Simple.

It is not whether someone complains or not. You said they didn't colonize. Which was not the case.

Don't know about Icelanders or Greenlanders, but we certainly had a problem with colonizers using our resources to pay their debts and trade currencies.

Be that as it is,i sincerely doubt that those little territories you've mentioned made Denmark rich.

We're not complaining about the Turks getting for free gold,silver,grains,wood for over 400 years from Romania....

 

[Lucky Breeze]

Because they cover the costs of their own people and they're under no obligation to pay for outsiders.Just because someone far away on this planet is rich,it doesn't mean it owes you something.

By reading your comments, i m proud that my country is still hosting 4 million afghan refugees, yes we are not rich but our hearts are far far bigger than black money hosts.

 

[flamer84]

By reading your comments, i m proud that my country is still hosting 4 million afghan refugees, yes we are not rich but our hearts are far far bigger than black money hosts.

Refugee accomodation in Europe means free housing (not in camps made of tents but flats),free healthcare,free education,and monthly pocket money.It's a lot more expensive than the make shift camps for refugees in the rest of the world.

 

[livingdead]

western liberalism is surprisingly shallow... this is actually why I support EU that stops europeans from killing each other. All this modernity and sophistication is a very thin layer on a very basic human that we all are.

 

[flamer84]

UPDATE....Denmark has just approved the new immigration law.

http://news.sky.com/story/1630107/denmark-passes-tough-new-immigration-law

Denmark's parliament has voted in favour of seizing the assets of asylum seekers to help pay for their stay while their claims are processed.

The controversial law is part of a package of immigration reforms designed to make the country less appealing for migrants.

The new measures, which also delay family reunions by increasing the waiting period from one to up to three years, had cross-party support and passed with an overwhelming majority.

Out of the 109 parliamentarians who voted, 81 backed the bill which was presented by the minority Liberal Party government of Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

He was helped by the support of the opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Danish People's Party - Denmark's two largest parties. One lawmaker abstained and 70 others were absent.

Under the new measures, valuables worth more than about £1,000 will be seized by police as migrants enter the country to help cover their housing and food costs.

After considerable uproar Parliament clarified that jewellery, including wedding rings, and other sentimental possessions would not be taken.

The UN and other human rights organisations have condemned the legislation, saying it breaks international laws on refugees.

Critics said separating families was inhumane and would severely affect integration efforts.

However, the Danish government claimed the measures have been "terribly misunderstood".

It argued that Danes who want to qualify for social benefits may also have to sell their valuables.

Government spokesman Marcus Knuth said: "This misconception that Danish authorities would take personal valuables and so on is so, so wrong.

"We're simply asking that if asylum seekers - in the rare case where they do come with enough means to pay for themselves then - following exactly the same rules as for Danish citizens wishing to be on unemployment benefits - if you can pay for yourself, well then you should pay for yourself, before the Danish welfare system does it."

However, Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen from the opposition left Red-Green Alliance that was against the legislation, said "this is a symbolic move to scare people away" from seeking asylum in Denmark.

President of the Danish National Party, Kashif Ahmad, told Sky News: "I don't believe it's going to be useful in practice and therefore I am against these rules that have gone through parliament.

"There is a connotation and similarity to the 1930s and 1940s in Germany where we saw the Nazis confiscating large amounts of gold from Jews and others.

"Therefore I believe it's a disgrace and it's a shameful law that we passed."

But Anders Vistisen, MEP for the Danish People's Party, told Sky: "We are protecting refugees and not putting them into gas chambers.

"And it is frankly offensive to both Danes and victims of the Nazi regime to imply otherwise."

Switzerland requires asylum seekers to hand over cash of more than 1,000 francs (£685) and some German states do take funds from refugees.

Mr Vistisen added of the Danish plans: "I don't think the revenue will be big but it will send a certain signal that you should not come to Denmark for economical reasons."

Sky's Ian Woods said over 70% of Danes think the migrant issue was the most important issue facing the country.

He said the adoption of the new measures, which were backed by the main-centre left opposition, reflected a marked shift to the right in Danish politics.

 

[Audio]

western liberalism is surprisingly shallow... this is actually why I support EU that stops europeans from killing each other. All this modernity and sophistication is a very thin layer on a very basic human that we all are.

Out of touch with reality statement.