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Asylum seekers sleeping in streets
Asylum facilities are full, says the Belgian Immigration Office, which yesterday turned away 50 asylum seekers, many of whom were then forced to sleep in the street and public parks. Asylum seekers, who can usually enter one of the asylum facilities the same day they register with the Immigration Office, were handed notes to not return until Thursday, when there might be more place for them.
“In principle, only 250 people can be admitted,” spokesperson Geert De Vulder told De Standaard. “We can go a little beyond this, but not much.”
Throughout Europe, the number of asylum seekers has risen in the last months. However, secreatry of state for asylum and migration Theo Francken told Radio 1 that the turning away of asylum seekers is “nothing new”. He calls it a caricature to suggest that every asylum seeker who is turned away is sleeping in parks. “Many of these people often pay over €10,000 to come here. It’s naive to say they don’t have €50 for a hotel room.” He also suggests that many have acquaintances here with whom they can stay if they are turned away.
Photo courtesy VRT
Comments
This really makes one angry: the "not sufficient free buildings" argument in itself remaining to be revised, whilst the problem is hardly new, Mr.Theo Francken! How long have you been acquainted with it?... You could have ordered the construction of new shelters a long time ago, barracks if necessary ; your attitude gives a bad reputation to these shores: move on or put a sock in it!
They are not asylum-seeker. They are benefits-seekers.
The first thing they do when they receive "asymum" is head to the CPAS.
It seems to me that Germany, in particular the north, is much better organised in receiving these Immigrants, most of whom are refugees who have fled their homes in countries at war and have suffered terribly. It's unfair to consider all of them economic migrants!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8LanF60kcI
Francken's comments are inflammatory, insensistive, inappropriate and downright incorrect. As a scholar researching migration, I can attest to the fact that most people spend their life savings and have borrowed money from many others to find a way to find a way to Europe. Having suffered such harsh conditions to arrive in Belgium, I don't think saving money to pay for a hotel is on anyone's mind. Furthermore, it would be relatively impossible to find a hotel in Brussels that costs 50 euro...and almost all require travelers to present a passport! It these are the kinds of comments coming from the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, I am not sure what to say for how Belgium presents itself to the world. I also notice that annually these types of comments against migrants always show up in August during holiday times when no one cares to comment or fight back.
I am totally amazed at the hotels and friends here comment. Just like the English politician and press nightlight the debarcule at Calais. Yet again Minster show their inhuman side to win the vote of thos who think all migration is a strain on them. Don't these people recognise had the European not taken all the wealth from these countries divided them innaturally and sent in troops to liberate them there would be less of them fleeing here.