Migrant crisis: Why are countries taking refugees' valuables?

Plans in Denmark for border police to seize cash and valuables from asylum seekers to help pay for their stay have drawn international criticism. Other countries in Europe are already using similar measures as they struggle to cope with the number of migrants and refugees arriving.

Officials say the majority of migrants arriving in Europe have very little money left

What are Denmark's plans?

The new law gives the Danish authorities "the power to search clothes and luggage of asylum seekers... with a view to finding assets" to cover expenses such as food and accommodation, according to a government statement (in Danish).

A new camp in Vordingborg, 100 km south of Copenhagen, is meant to house up to 2,000 migrants

Police can seize cash over 10,000 kroner (€1,340, $1,450) as well as any individual items valued at more than that amount, such as watches, mobile phones and computers. Wedding rings and any other items of sentimental value are exempt.

Asylum seekers in Switzerland are required to declare their assets on arrival

Savings and money in bank accounts will not be seized, a spokeswoman for the immigration ministry told the BBC. As a main rule, money and valuables will be confiscated on arrival, she said. Assets discovered at a later stage during the asylum seeker's stay may also be taken.

A police officer tries to separate pro-migrant and anti-migrant protesters at the Danish-German border

However some experts have questioned how this will enforced. While the seizing of assets has dominated international headlines, legal experts and human rights groups have voiced more alarm over measures making it harder to obtain family reunions and residency permits.


Amnesty International has said refugees fleeing war would face "an impossible choice" if the waiting period to apply to bring over their family was increased from one year to three.

Switzerland has had a law enabling the authorities to confiscate assets belonging to asylum seekers for 20 years. Migrants are required to declare their assets on arrival, and anything over 1,000 Swiss francs ($1,000; €900, £700) can be taken. Objects of emotional value are never seized, the government says.

In 2015, the Swiss authorities collected a total of 210,000 Swiss francs from 112 people. Most of this was cash. As the vast majority of asylum seekers are destitute, assets are confiscated from only a small number, the government says.

It was forced to defend the policy last week following criticism of the Danish proposals. In the Netherlands, asylum seekers are supposed to declare their assets, and deductions can be made if this exceeds €5,895 for an individual or €11,790 for a family.

They also have to pay levies on their income towards their stay, once they are allowed to work.
A report in the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad found asylum seekers had paid nearly €500,000 towards their living costs since the start of 2013.

Meanwhile in Germany, Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann has reportedly said cash and valuables worth more than €750 can legally be seized in his state - one of the main entry points for migrants arriving in the country.

"The practice in Bavaria and the federal rules set out in law correspond in substance with the process in Switzerland," German newspaper Bild quoted him as saying.

In the neighbouring German region of Baden-Wuerttemberg, asylum seekers can only keep money and valuables worth €350 (£265), the report said.