As Belgian citizens sign up to host migrants and refugees, some politicians are pushing for tougher deportation laws. A draft bill says police should be allowed to search for and arrest unauthorised migrants in privacy homes. And public opinion is split.
ADVERTISEMENTAs Belgian citizens sign up to host migrants and refugees, some politicians are pushing for tougher deportation laws.
A draft bill says police should be allowed to search for and arrest unauthorised migrants in private homes.
Public opinion is split.
"Belgians have their own choice whether or not to accept migrants and the police can enforce that but certainly not by going inside people houses," one young man told euronews.
"It's hard because what I say sounds inhumane, but NGO aren't doing a good job so I don't see any reason why this shouldn't be allowed," counters a woman in the town of Mechelen.
The new law would give police the right to enter and search private homes in order to execute deportation warrants.
Philippe van Lindhout, co-Chair of the Association of Investigation Judges says it's a step too far.
"Investigating judges are the only people who can issue search warrants and one of our main professional obligations is to be the safe guard for fundemnetal right. And one of those fundemental rights is the right of privacy, to find yourself at home. As we say, a man' s home is his castle".
Members of parliament will hear more from Belgium's judges at a hearing next week.