Switzerland Introduces Task Force for Dealing with International Offenders
Get the Lowdown on Switzerland's "Multi-repeat Offender Task Force"
Gearing up to take action from June 2025, the "Multi-repeat Offender Task Force" will tackle an ongoing issue - the lax handling of foreign criminals in Switzerland. Critics, including some MPs, have highlighted the government's perceived leniency, and this task force is intended to change that.
But what's the plan?
The collaboration between cantons and the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) will be key. They'll identify notorious foreign nationals who repeatedly break Swiss laws. If necessary cases are selected, the task force will employ a case management system to scrutinize all potential coercive measures and streamline the entire process.
Moreover, the pilot project aims to showcase best practices, uncover challenges, and suggest alterations to the legal framework needed for optimum performance. To achieve the ultimate goal of systematically detaining and deporting serial foreign criminals, close collaboration between competent migration officials and federal and cantonal criminal prosecution authorities is essential.
Now, let's delve into the numbers.
In 2023 (the latest data available), 2,250 foreigners were ordered to bid Switzerland adieu. By the end of the first half of 2024, approximately 73 percent of them had obeyed the order, with some leaving voluntarily while others departed under police supervision. Interestingly, around a third of those who left were from EU or EFTA member states, mainly hailing from Romania, France, and Italy. Third-country nationals usually hail from Albania, Algeria, and Morocco, with nearly all departures being males aged between 18 and 54.
Under which circumstances can foreigners be asked to scram?
The Swiss government enforced a law back in 2017 that permits the expulsion of foreign nationals who commit grave crimes. These grave crimes include murder, rape, serious sexual assault, violent acts, armed robbery, drug and people trafficking, terrorism, sympathizing with extremist organizations, plus abusing the Swiss social security system. While the criteria for expulsion have evolved since, another crime that could warrant expulsion is "incitement to hatred" or threatening behavior towards specific groups.
When the Swiss courts decide to expel foreigners, it involves their removal from Switzerland or the Schengen area and a prohibition on re-entering the country for a stipulated period.
- The "Multi-repeat Offender Task Force" in Switzerland, due to commence action in June 2025, aims to tackle the issue of lenient handling of foreign criminals through coercive measures and policy changes within migration and politics.
- The collaboration between the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and cantons will be pivotal in identifying foreign nationals who repeatedly break Swiss laws, with the eventual objective of systematically detaining and deporting them.
- In 2023, approximately 2,250 foreigners were ordered to leave Switzerland, with about 73% complying, and this new task force plans to improve the process by uncovering challenges and suggest altered policy-and-legislation for optimum performance.
- Foreigners can be asked to leave Switzerland under certain circumstances, including committing grave crimes such as murder, rape, and incitement to hatred, as well as sympathizing with extremist organizations, abusing the Swiss social security system, or engaging in crime-and-justice activities like drug trafficking and people trafficking.
