Swiss migration data reveals that nearly 80.5 percent of asylum seekers from Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia have been accused of at least one offense—significantly higher than the 12.5 percent rate among all asylum seekers.
According to figures from Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), North African applicants are disproportionately represented among those facing criminal charges. Their asylum claims are also rarely successful, with approximately 99 percent of applications reportedly rejected.
The country introduced an accelerated asylum process for applicants from several North African countries in 2024, allowing officials to quickly handle cases deemed unlikely to result in protection. However, the process can be prolonged when applicants decline to provide fingerprints, miss scheduled appointments, or fail to appear for deportation.
SEM spokesman Daniel Bach stated that removing people convicted or repeatedly accused of criminal offenses remains a priority for the country’s asylum policy. “Criminals must leave Switzerland quickly. This is a priority of the asylum strategy,” he added.
The figures are likely to intensify debate in Switzerland over the effectiveness of its asylum system and whether accelerated procedures and deportations are sufficient to address criminality among migrants. The data could also increase pressure on Swiss authorities to strengthen cooperation with North African governments to accelerate deportations.
