‘Illegals a jackpot for dozens of non-profit organizations’

“Belgium received 183 million euros between 2014 and today of the more than 3 billion euros that the European Commission has earmarked for this.”

Of this 183 million euros, almost 150 million euros remained at the federal level, while Flanders and Wallonia each received 16,6 million euros. “What eventually happens to all that money is highly unclear,” said Samyn, who addressed a written question about this to State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Sammy Mahdi (CD&V). “Unfortunately, the response was as short as it was disappointing. We were none the wiser.”

“In a manner of speaking, there are more subsidized staff members in non-profit organizations working in projects concerning the voluntary return of illegal immigrants than the number of illegal immigrants they actually return,” Samyn said.

“Our tax money goes to 280 different projects just like that. So this is yet another subsidy carousel for ‘friendly’ non-profit organizations that eat from the Purple-Green coalition hand,” continued Samyn. “There are 35 projects that are allegedly committed to the return of illegal immigrants. But during the first five months of this year, 764 people have returned ‘voluntarily’ out of an estimated 100 000 to 150 000 illegal immigrants residing in Belgium. So there are probably more subsidized staff members working in such projects than the number of illegal immigrants they send back.”

Purple is the term for a government coalition of social democrats and liberals, excluding Christian democrats. It is derived from the combination of the colour of the social democrats (red) and liberals (blue) in Belgium and the Netherlands.

And it is clear from Mahdi’s answer that he does not want anyone snooping around his budget. “He has seven ongoing projects that are referred to as ‘special cases’ and that consume 61 million euros,” said Samyn. “But it is unclear what those ‘special cases’ are, [but] money flows there anyway.” A special service has been set up within the FPS Home Affairs to monitor these subsidies. But as yet no answer has been received to a written question to Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden (CD&V).

“People throw money away by not acting unambiguously and decisively”, concluded Samyn. “The illegal immigrant industry is a business model for many dozens of non-profit organizations in which the Purple-Green just like the previous government has joined in. And meanwhile, Europe’s borders are under increasing pressure. As long as this pamper policy is implemented, they will continue to come en masse.”