Belgium has taken a significant step towards tightening its return policy.
Council of Ministers approved draft law that would allow police to enter private homes to detain people staying in the country illegally.
The bill, adopted in a second reading on Friday, will now return to Council of State for further advice before being sent to Parliament.
Under the proposed framework, police would be able to enter a residence alongside the Immigration Office (DVZ) to detain an undocumented migrant.
Nonetheless, strict conditions apply: the individual must refuse to cooperate with their return and be considered a threat to public order or national security.
Any entry would also require prior authorisation from an investigating judge.
The measure has long been politically sensitive. A similar proposal under Charles Michel government failed to progress due to internal opposition, particularly among French-speaking liberals.
More recently, former migration ministers Sammy Mahdi (CD&V) and Nicole de Moor (CD&V) had backed the idea, though without securing enough support within government.
This time, however, the governing coalition has agreed on a legal framework.
Defending the proposal, current Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt (N-VA) argued that home entry should not be "taboo when safety of our population is at stake".
"It is unacceptable that illegal criminals can still evade deportation today by hiding behind their front doors. With this bill, our services are no longer powerless," she said.
Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V), who co-authored the text, said the reform is about making return policy effective.
"A credible return policy requires not only clear rules, but also the ability to effectively apply them," she said, adding that the measure includes safeguards to respect the rule of law and human dignity.
The proposal remains controversial, with critics warning of potential infringements on fundamental rights. The Council of State has already issued critical opinions, and a new assessment is expected before parliamentary debate begins.
If adopted, individuals detained under the measure would be transferred directly to closed detention centres.
