New Immigration Law in Belgium: Proposal to Allow Entry into Homes Sparks Controversy

A new immigration law proposal in Belgium has sparked widespread debate in the country. The proposal allows for entry into homes under certain conditions to apprehend individuals who have been issued a deportation order, systematically refuse to leave the country, and are deemed to pose a threat to public order or national security. Organizations active in the field of migration have compared the proposal to practices by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The decision to enter a home can only be made if lighter measures have proven insufficient. Prior to each procedure, the approval of an investigating judge is required, who will assess whether the measure is proportionate. Belgian Minister of Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt has rejected comparisons between the proposal and ICE practices in the US. The proposal has been criticized by investigating judges, lawyers, police representatives, the Belgian Data Protection Authority, the federal migration center Myria, and various civil society organizations.