Belgium’s parliament has approved a controversial law allowing police to enter the homes of suspected undocumented migrants who have ignored orders to leave the country, after a debate that ran through the night.
The measure was finally approved by a majority of lawmakers at around 5 a.m. local time on Friday, following hours of argument in the chamber. It is part of a wider push by Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s right-leaning coalition to limit migration and increase the number of expulsions of people who have been denied the right to remain in Belgium.
Under the new law, searches will be limited to the homes of people who have been denied asylum in Belgium, have ignored an order to leave, and are considered a threat to public security. Each search must be approved by an investigative judge and can only take place between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m., with immigration officials present.
The legislation has drawn strong opposition from human rights groups and lawyers, who argue that allowing police to enter private homes for immigration enforcement risks undermining constitutional rights and privacy protections. Amnesty International urged lawmakers to reject the bill ahead of the vote, warning that it could also affect people who help undocumented migrants.
The government has defended the measure as a tool to enforce deportation orders against people considered a danger to public order or national security. Supporters argue that existing powers are not enough to find people who have disappeared from the authorities’ view after their asylum claims were refused.
Protests against the bill took place across the country before the vote. Around 3,000 people formed a human chain around Brussels’ Palace of Justice on Wednesday evening, and more than 50 other demonstrations and gatherings were organised in towns and cities across Belgium, according to Belgian media.
The law places Belgium among a small group of European countries that allow home entry in immigration enforcement, and it is likely to face legal challenges from rights groups once it comes into force.
This is a file photo of the parliament building.
This report is based on Reuters’ coverage of the parliamentary vote; the details of the debate and the safeguards in the law have not been independently verified by The Hourly News.
Sources: Reuters, “Belgium to allow home searches for suspected illegal migrants”, https://www.reuters.com/world/belgium-allow-home-searches-suspected-illegal-migrants-2026-11-06/
