Journey

Foreigners wishing to apply for protection in Switzerland may file their asylum application at any Swiss diplomatic or consular representation, at border crossings or airports inside the country. In the case of applications filed at representations abroad, however, an entry permit is not granted unless the person concerned can show credible grounds for flight and, at the same time, demonstrate previous ties to Switzerland. Entry is only permitted at national borders if there are plausible grounds for asylum-relevant persecution and if the asylum seekers have travelled to the Swiss border without any unnecessary stopovers. However, in order to avoid rejection at a diplomatic representation or at the border, almost 90 per cent of asylum seekers opt for illegal entry. Persons apprehended while attempting to enter Switzerland illegally are sent back to the neighbouring country. As a rule, asylum seekers are not in danger of persecution in any of Switzerland’s four neighbouring countries.

Question: How did Mamadou B., Ahmed H. and Sadiye C. enter Switzerland?

On 3rd November, Mamadou B. travels to Genoa by cargo ship. For his ticket Mamadou B. has had to pay US$ 1000. Following a trafficker’s directions, he enters Switzerland illegally at Ponte Chiasso. Acting on the advice of the trafficker, Mamadou B. destroys his travel and identity documents before arrival.

On 27th February, Ahmed H. leaves his native town for Nairobi without any travel documents. In the Kenyan capital he takes a flight to Rome organized by a middleman. On 22nd March he enters Switzerland illegally.

On 24th April, Sadiye C. enters Switzerland at Chiasso in the car of her brother Ahmet C. He and his wife Marianne have picked Sadiye up at Albergo «Piazza Cavour» in Milan. Sadiye C. had left Turkey on 10th April via the port of Kusadasi. Thanks to connections, she had managed to get on a tourist ferry there; this took her to the Greek island of Samos. She had travelled from Greece to Italy with a cousin living near Rome.