Returns of illegal migrant prisoners rise by a quarter

The number of prisoners without legal residence who are being returned to their home countries has risen by 25 per cent, reaching its highest level in seven years. This was announced on Thursday by Belgium’s minister for Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt.

The rise follows an earlier fall in the number of new asylum seekers. The focus is now on people leaving the system. Since the current government took office, priority has been given to returning foreign nationals who committed crimes and are staying illegally.

The immigration service moved more staff to return units working with prisons and appointed a coordinator to deal with overcrowding. In 2024, an average of 105 people a month were removed from detention. Since September 2025, this has increased to about 146 a month.

The minister said the numbers should rise further. Planned measures include more staff to escort returnees, better cooperation with airlines, and more places in closed detention centres.

Belgium is also pushing for stronger return agreements with countries of origin, linking cooperation to visas or economic benefits. 

At EU level, talks are under way to restart returns to Afghanistan, a sensitive issue because it involves contact with the Taliban authorities.

^{© BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS}