Austrian cabinet agrees on measures to tighten asylum procedures

VIENNA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The Austrian cabinet decided Wednesday on a new packet of measures to tackle asylum misuse and illegal immigration, local media reported.

The measures are to bestow greater power to authorities, who will in future be able to analyze the mobile phones of asylum seekers to check which route they took to reach Austria.

Should they be carrying money, authorities will be able to collect up to 840 euros (1,040 U.S. dollars) as a contribution toward their asylum procedure.

In addition, if asylum seekers return to their home country for a holiday, they will give up their right to stay in Austria.

Criminal activity will also be checked for, and those confirmed guilty are to be placed in detention before being deported from the country.

Speaking to the media following the cabinet meeting, both Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache said the packet of measures is primarily designed to tackle abuse of the asylum system. Enditem