Belgium Ramps Up Deportations of Moroccan Migrants

Thanks to strengthened cooperation with Morocco, 203 people have been returned to their country of origin, compared to 43 the previous year. This significant increase is the result of a more firm migration policy pursued by Belgium, which aims to increase the number of voluntary and forced returns of people who have received an order to leave the territory.

Despite this increase, the number of actual returns remains low compared to the 23,873 orders to leave the territory issued in 2023. The difficulties encountered by the authorities in implementing these orders are numerous: legal appeals, lack of cooperation from the persons concerned, limited places in detention centers and administrative complexity.

To facilitate the returns, Nicole de Moor recalls having participated in a government mission to Rabat in April, where an agreement was reached with Morocco for the repatriation of its citizens in an irregular situation. This collaboration, which is part of a broader diplomatic context, has made it possible to quadruple the number of deportations.

The Moroccan example could serve as a model for other countries, even if each situation requires a specific approach. Belgium has also strengthened its cooperation with Albania, Georgia and Moldova to increase the number of returns.