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Federal Council enacts new security regulations in federal asylum centers

🇨🇭 SwitzerlandAsylum1 recorded versionLast change 6 May 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The Asylum Act (AsylG) now incorporates new security provisions and operational guidelines for federal asylum centres (BAZ). Key aspects of the BAZ house rules have been integrated into the AsylG. The tasks and competencies of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) regarding accommodation, care, and security in the centres, including airport accommodations, have been redefined and/or clarified.

Overview

The Swiss Federal Council has enacted amendments to the Asylum Act, effective 1 June 2026, focusing on security and operations within federal asylum centres. These changes implement recommendations from the Oberholzer report, aiming to improve safety for both asylum seekers and staff. The new regulations codify key internal rules and enhance the State Secretariat for Migration's responsibilities in accommodation, care, and security.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • People staying in Swiss federal asylum centres
  • People staying in asylum accommodation facilities at Swiss airports
  • Asylum seekers whose conduct or circumstances require security measures
  • SEM staff working in federal asylum centres
  • Security and support staff working in the centres

What changed in the latest version

Before

The previous Asylum Act did not fully include specific security rules or internal house rules for federal asylum centres in the law. Some operational changes and regulation changes had already been made. These changes started on 15 January 2023. They dealt with immediate dangers and searches. However, a full legal framework for security and operations, based on the Oberholzer report's recommendations, was still missing.

After

The Asylum Act (AsylG) now includes new security rules and operational guidelines for federal asylum centres (BAZ). Key parts of the BAZ house rules are now part of the Asylum Act. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) has new or clearer tasks and responsibilities. These cover accommodation, care, and security in the centres, including airport accommodation.

This policy change is important. It puts security and operational management, which were once just house rules, into the Asylum Act itself. This gives these measures a stronger legal basis. It aims to make things safer for people seeking asylum and staff. It does this by using recommendations from the Oberholzer report. This report found that fundamental rights were respected, but improvements were still needed. Putting house rules into law makes the legal framework clearer for the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). This covers their responsibilities for accommodation, care, and security in federal asylum centres and at airport facilities. This move builds on earlier operational changes and a regulation change from January 2023. Those changes had already helped to reduce security-related problems.

Explained simply

Imagine a big house where people seeking safety live. Sometimes, things can get a bit tricky or unsafe. So, the government has decided to put new rules into effect, like changing the rulebook for this house, to make sure everyone inside, both the people living there and the people working there, are safer. These changes start on 1 June 2026.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v9Effective 1 Jun 2026EffectiveMedium impact
    Federal Council enacts new security regulations in federal asylum centers

    The Swiss Federal Council decided on 6 May 2026 to change the Asylum Act (AsylG). These changes are about security and how federal asylum centres (BAZ) operate. They will start on 1 June 2026. These changes follow recommendations from the Oberholzer report. They put important parts of BAZ house rules into the Asylum Act. They also define new tasks and responsibilities for the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). This includes accommodation, care, and security in the centres and at airport accommodation. Before this, on 15 January 2023, a change to a regulation already covered temporary detention and searches. This was to prevent immediate danger. This change led to fewer security problems.

Timeline

  1. Takes effect

    1 Jun 2026

    The Asylum Act (AsylG) now incorporates new security provisions and operational guidelines for federal asylum centres (BAZ). Key aspects of the BAZ house rules have been integrated into the AsylG. The tasks and competencies of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) regarding accommodation, care, and security in the centres, including airport accommodations, have been redefined and/or clarified.

  2. Announced

    6 May 2026

    The Swiss Federal Council has enacted amendments to the Asylum Act, effective 1 June 2026, focusing on security and operations within federal asylum centres. These changes implement recommendations from the Oberholzer report, aiming to improve safety for both asylum seekers and staff. The new regulations codify key internal rules and enhance the State Secretariat for Migration's responsibilities

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