Dramatic decrease in Eritreans seeking asylum in Switzerland

Photo credit: East Afro. Eritrean migrants in Switzerland.

TMP – 14/02/2018

The number of Eritreans applying for asylum at the Swiss border has fallen dramatically over the last three years.

In 2012, Switzerland was the most popular country among Eritreans and accounted for 37% of all asylum applications made by Eritreans in Europe.

Five years later, the situation looks very different. Last year, Switzerland received only 12% of Eritrean asylum requests, totaling 414 requests. That is fewer applications than received in Germany (36% of requests) and Italy (23%).

The dramatic reduction in Eritrean asylum requests in Switzerland is the result of several things. First of all, the total number of migrants reaching Europe has reduced because of increased patrols and interceptions by the Libyan coastguard of those leaving the country and the implementation of a more rigorous registration process in Italy.

In addition, Switzerland has increased restrictions on its migration policies, particularly with regard to asylum rules for Eritrean nationals.

Talking to Swiss broadcaster SRF, Emmanuelle Jaquet von Sury from the Secretariat for Migration said: “Since June 2016, Eritreans who have not been summoned for military conscription or who are exempt can no longer receive refugee status.”
Despite the significant decline in new arrivals, Eritreans remain the largest group of asylum seekers in Switzerland. Of the 3,375 applications filed in 2017, 39% were babies born to Eritrean refugees.
The increase in births reflects the large number of Eritrean applicants who arrived in previous years, but is also attributed to false assumptions regarding the asylum application procedure.
Redae, an Eritrean asylum seeker, said to SRF: “Many people say that by giving birth in Switzerland, they will have more chance to stay in Switzerland.”
However, Minister Von Sury firmly denied these claims. “Having a child during the asylum procedure has no impact on the outcome,” she said.