Arizona's Migration Policy: Chaos, Suffering and Costs
Feb 07 2025
3 minutes
The new government opts for a tougher approach to asylum and migration. Legal escape routes are being restricted and reception capacity is being reduced, which is jeopardising the rights of asylum seekers. At the European level too, the government is choosing to shift responsibility instead of showing solidarity. This policy will lead to more chaos, human suffering and higher costs for society.
The Arizona coalition agreement creates numerous barriers that make it difficult for people on the run to access rights. 11.11.11 is deeply concerned about the proposed restrictions on the right to family reunification, the revision of legal assistance during the procedure and the deterioration of reception conditions. While people are still sleeping on the streets, the government wants to dismantle the network of Local Reception Initiatives (LOI). This is an incomprehensible choice, since these thousands of reception places play a crucial role in the reception crisis
Little European solidarity, but no extreme change of course
The coalition agreement is also not going in the right direction at European level. It opts for a minimal contribution to the redistribution of asylum seekers. The greatest damage seems to have disappeared. The government is staying within the contours of the EU Migration Pact and adhering to international obligations such as the UN Refugee Convention. There is no longer any question of an unrealistic and extremely problematic Australian model or a so-called opt-out scenario.
The government does want to cooperate more with countries of origin and transit, but it is unclear which 'useful avenues' are being explored in this regard. 11.11.11 Stresses that the focus should be on better protection of refugees and the establishment of safe routes. We warn against scenarios where asylum procedures are outsourced to third countries, such as the UK-Rwanda model or the Italy-Albania deal, which have proven time and again not to work and are completely at odds with human rights.
Ending resettlement program creates less safe routes
11.11.11 is deeply concerned about the termination of the Belgian resettlement programme. This programme is a lifeline for people in need and one of the few legal routes to protection. The decision to terminate it goes against the government’s own objective: to combat human trafficking and strengthen legal migration routes. You cannot tackle human trafficking and destroy the safe alternatives at the same time.
You don’t lock up children. Ever.
The coalition agreement promises more investment in reception and protection in conflict areas, but how this will happen in practice remains unclear. At the same time, major cuts are planned for development cooperation – precisely the budget that makes these efforts possible. In addition, the government wants to link development cooperation to cooperation with the Belgian return policy. 11.11.11 does not believe this is an effective approach and warns that it will be the local populations in partner countries that will suffer the most if budgets are cut.
Positive: the legal ban on locking up families with children will remain in place. However, the coalition agreement provides for an evaluation of this law after two years. 11.11.11 counts on the parties that introduced this ban to remain true to their position. Because you don't lock up children. Never.
