Brussels: Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden announced her intention to transfer detained irregular migrants from overcrowded prisons to closed return centers managed by the Immigration Office. Speaking to the Dutch daily Het Belang van Limburg, Verlinden shared her plans to alleviate the strain on Belgian prisons, as reported by French newspaper La Libre.
According to Anadolu Agency, Verlinden emphasized that irregular migrants should not be housed within the prison system, which currently holds nearly 13,000 detainees, exceeding its capacity of 11,000. Approximately one-third of these detainees lack legal residency in Belgium. Paulien Blondeel, spokesperson for the Immigration Office, clarified that individuals placed in closed centers would face administrative detention limited to four months, intended to facilitate their repatriation. Blondeel noted that these centers are “not an alternative to prison.”
Verlinden also proposed exploring the potential of expanding detention capacity beyond Belgian borders, mentioning Kosovo as a possible location. She affirmed that efforts are underway to establish agreements between the prison administration and the Immigration Office to ensure seamless and efficient transfers of detainees for expulsion.