Immigration debate in Belgium: 'house search' decision from the Parliament

NEWS CENTER/ The Belgian parliament approved a controversial law early Friday allowing police to enter the homes of suspected undocumented immigrants who ignore orders to leave the country, the Brussels Times reported.

According to the authorities' statement, searches will be limited to the homes of people whose asylum claims in Belgium have been rejected, who do not comply with orders to leave the country and who are considered to pose a threat to public security.

IT WILL BE HELD BETWEEN 5-9 AM

According to the bill, house searches must be approved by the investigating judge and can only be carried out between 5 and 9 a.m. provided that immigration officials are present.

Amnesty International had called on lawmakers to reject this law, which it said could also affect people who help illegal immigrants.

The government defended the measure as a means to enforce deportation orders of people who pose a danger to public order or national security.

PROTESTS WERE MADE

The legislation, which is part of a broader effort by Prime Minister Bart De Wever's right-wing coalition to restrict immigration and increase deportations of those denied the right to remain in the country, has been fiercely criticized by human rights groups and lawyers.

These groups and advocates argue that allowing police to enter private homes for immigration enforcement would undermine constitutional rights and privacy laws.