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15.5 pct more migrants repatriated from Belgium in 2015

Xinhua, January 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

The number of migrants in Belgium who returned to their country of origin increased by 15.5 percent in 2015 compared with the previous year, Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken told Belgian public broadcaster RTBF on Friday.

The number of returned migrants stands at 10,081, including forced returns (5,894 people) as well as voluntary returns (4,187). The figure is marked by a 20 percent increase in repatriation of illegal migrants.

Francken said capacity in detention centers would be increased from 528 to 610 in July this year.

Among the forced returns, Francken said 1,437 convicted criminals were sent back to their country of origin, an increase of 129 percent compared with 2014.

He said: "Today one in three forced returns is someone who has spent time in prison. In the past, it was done differently -- they were given papers and allowed to stay, whereas these days they are sent home."

The number of voluntary returns was up 14 percent in 2015 compared with the previous year. Francken added: "We continue to focus primarily on voluntary returns and hope this will increase in 2016."

According to RTBF, five countries make up 40 percent of the cases of repatriation: Albania, Romania, Morocco, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Endit