Political Agreement to Accelerate Deportations
The Swiss government is making strides to expedite the deportation process for Moroccan asylum seekers whose requests have been denied. A recent agreement negotiated in Rabat by Vincenzo Mascioli, the State Secretary at the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), and his Moroccan counterpart is set to significantly shorten the identification procedures that currently burden the system.
Historically, the identification of rejected asylum seekers from Morocco has taken an average of over 150 days. Under the new agreement, this timeframe is expected to be drastically reduced to no more than 30 days. Additionally, provisional travel documents will be issued more quickly, thereby promising a more efficient and streamlined process for deportations. The SEM assures that this will lead to shorter waiting times and an increase in the number of deportations conducted.
Enhanced Cooperation and Upcoming Changes
While the agreement is yet to be officially signed and validated by the Swiss Federal Council, Vincenzo Mascioli expressed optimism about the effectiveness of the new procedures, stating that they will be "significantly more efficient." Even before the completion of the latest negotiations, Moroccan authorities had successfully conducted over 200 identifications, illustrating the potential effectiveness of this collaboration. Furthermore, the agreement aims to strengthen not just deportations but also police cooperation between Switzerland and Morocco.
The political implications of this initiative are considerable, as pressure mounts on the Swiss Federal Council to adopt a firmer stance on deportations. The SEM reports that the existing cooperation with Morocco has been functioning effectively, but this new agreement is designed to sharpen the focus on expediting procedures. Morocco's strategic role in tackling migration challenges in North Africa cannot be overstated, as the nation plays a crucial part in managing migration flows.
According to SEM statistics, 1,289 Moroccans applied for asylum in Switzerland in 2024, a figure that slightly decreased to 1,050 in 2025. As of April 2026, there have been 268 applications recorded. In terms of deportations, 439 individuals were removed from Switzerland in 2024, followed by 354 in 2025, and 97 in the early months of 2026. However, it is important to recognize that many rejected asylum seekers also leave Switzerland voluntarily after receiving negative decisions, often without any oversight.
As reported by blick.ch.
