Switzerland has stunned Europe with its impressive deportation rate in 2024, leaving other nations, like Germany and France, in the dust. Achieving a 60% deportation success rate, Switzerland not only leads the continent but has also outdone itself, marking an 18% improvement over the previous year.
By the numbers, 7,000 asylum seekers were deported in 2024, a statistic proudly shared by Beat Jans, the federal councilor for asylum, during a speech at the World Economic Forum.
So, what’s Switzerland’s secret? Jans credits tighter coordination with its cantons—Switzerland’s federal states—and effective management by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). Praising the SEM for its efficiency in securing necessary documentation, Jans labeled this a “good development.” But he wasn’t shy about acknowledging the ongoing pressure on cantons and stressed the need for more international agreements to keep deportations on track.
“Fewer refugees are arriving in Switzerland because we have negotiated better agreements with transit countries, but also with countries of origin to ensure that fewer people put themselves in danger by fleeing,” Jans said. He emphasized the importance of Switzerland’s 66 migration agreements, calling the approach beneficial both for the deportees and the nation.
A standout example of these agreements is Switzerland’s long-standing readmission deal with Algeria, established in 2006. This cooperation has allowed Switzerland to return a significant number of migrants. Now, Swiss lawmakers are angling for a similar agreement with Morocco, a move that could further bolster the country’s already impressive deportation record.
EU’s Dismal Performance: Germany and France Struggle
While Switzerland forges ahead, major EU players like Germany and France continue to flounder. France, for instance, has a deportation rate that hovers between 8% and 15%. Despite President Emmanuel Macron’s lofty promises of achieving a 100% deportation rate, the reality is far from it. In Algeria’s case, the situation is downright embarrassing: France has managed to deport only 0.2% of individuals slated for removal.
Germany fares no better. Chancellor Olaf Scholz frequently vows to crack down on illegal migration, often following tragic incidents that underscore the consequences of lax deportation policies. Most recently, a brutal stabbing attack in Bavaria left a 2-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man dead, with others injured. Scholz’s repeated pledges to “get serious” about deportations are wearing thin, even among Germany’s typically loyal state media.
Adding to the problem, Germany’s left-leaning government has outright blocked deportations to certain countries, including Afghanistan, citing safety concerns. However, this stance ignores Afghanistan’s alarming crime rates among its migrants and their significant integration challenges within Germany.
The Bigger Picture: A System Exposed
Switzerland’s starkly different results reveal a troubling truth: many European nations are unwilling—or unable—to tackle illegal migration effectively. Switzerland’s success demonstrates that a coordinated, no-nonsense approach can work. Meanwhile, nations like France and Germany hide behind empty promises and ideological roadblocks, leaving their citizens vulnerable and their systems overwhelmed.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer. While Switzerland paves the way with pragmatism and results, much of the EU remains mired in political inertia, wishful thinking, and an apparent inability to act. The numbers don’t lie, and neither do the consequences of inaction.
