Security measures are to be strengthened at the federal asylum centre in Chiasso, canton Ticino, Swiss Justice Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider announced following her visit on Monday.
The asylum situation in the Swiss city must be “carefully analysed”, the minister declared in Chiasso after her visit to the federal centre and a border post with Italy. This was her second visit to Chiasso, following one in January.
Since the beginning of summer, the local and cantonal authorities in Ticino have been calling for measures to improve the situation inside and outside the asylum centre. They criticise the high occupancy rate and numerous reported offences.
The justice ministry confirmed that Elisabeth Baume-Schneider had instructed the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) to permanently strengthen security and prevention measures in and around the centre. This will include additional staff and patrols and an increase in occupation programmes, in agreement with the municipalities.
The ministry is also preparing changes to the law to strengthen security and prevention in federal asylum centres in general. ...