Detention of irregularly staying families with children in family housing in a closed centre

As of 11 August, irregularly staying families with minor children can be detained with a view to removal in family housing on the grounds of the closed detention centre 127bis.

Following the entry into force on 11 August 2018 of the Royal Decree of 22 July 2018 (which was published in the Belgian Gazette on 1 August), irregularly staying families with minor children can now be detained with a view to removal in family housing on the grounds of the closed detention centre 127bis of Steenokkerzeel (next to Brussels National airport).

This Royal Decree implements a legal possibility to detain families with minor children in a closed centre.

The families may only be detained as a measure of last resort (a “cascading system” applies) and for the shortest appropriate period of time. The Royal Decree specifies that the families may be detained for a maximum of two weeks (which may be extended by an additional two weeks).

This measure was intensely debated at the national level, and many organisations have published their views on this measure (see, for example, the press release by the Federal Migration Centre Myria: http://www.myria.be/files/180810_Communique_127bis.pdf).

The Royal Decree of 22 July 2018 is available online: http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi/article_body.pl?language=nl&caller…

 

Publication Date: Sat 11 Aug 2018
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