Czech Government Proposes Faster Deportation Law

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Translation

The Czech government, led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, has introduced a draft law aimed at speeding up the deportation of illegal migrants. The proposal includes faster legal proceedings, stricter checks on asylum seekers, and reductions in social standards. The objective is to decrease the number of migrants heading to the Czech Republic. The opposition criticises the proposal, but the government emphasises its importance for security.

Exercise: Text comprehension

Question 1: Who presented the proposal for the new deportation law?

The Czech government with Prime Minister Petr Fiala presented the proposal.

Question 2: What are some measures included in the proposed law to speed up deportations?

The proposed law includes faster judicial processes, stricter asylum seeker checks, and limited social standards.

Exercise: Vocabulary

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▌08/03/2025

The Czech government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Petr Fiala, has announced a proposed law aimed at accelerating the deportation of illegal immigrants residing in the country. This proposal intends to tighten controls on asylum seekers, expand health screenings, speed up court proceedings, and reduce social standards for asylum seekers. The overarching aim of these measures, as stated by Fiala, is to discourage potential migrants from entering the Czech Republic.

The proposal, as detailed by Interior Minister Vít Rakušan, is to streamline the deportation proceedings for those residing illegally. One of the notable aspects of the proposed law is that foreigners who are deported will no longer be eligible to apply for asylum, thereby attempting to curb potentially exploitative asylum claims. Additionally, processes for denying international protection and deciding on the return of foreigners to their home countries will be consolidated.

Czech Government Proposes Faster Deportation Law (Illustration)

Rakušan also noted the proposal includes the ability for authorities to thoroughly vet asylum seekers through security databases and a new epidemiological screening. There is also a provision that would permit authorities to access data from migrants' mobile phones as a way to confirm identities. Furthermore, the proposal suggests that Czech courts will have the ability to impose deportation as a penalty for foreign nationals convicted of criminal activities.

Decroix mentioned a strategic meeting with the opposition to discuss the proposal before its official introduction. There's potential for the proposal to be expedited through parliamentary proceedings, depending on agreements reached with leaders of opposing parties.

While the government asserts the necessity of this legislation to maintain security and control migration, opposition voices have criticized the timing of the proposal, suggesting it should have been introduced earlier. Opponents, including figures from the political party ANO, argue that while the intent to tighten migration policies is positive, implementation is overdue. Meanwhile, other critics, such as from the SPD party, claim the law doesn’t address deeper systemic issues surrounding illegal immigration.

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