Belgium approves home raids to apprehend undocumented migrants

The Belgian parliament has passed legislation granting police the authority to enter private residences, including homes of third parties, to detain migrants facing deportation orders. Operatives, accompanied by immigration officials, must obtain a warrant from an investigating judge to carry out these actions. Conditions for intervention include a refusal to cooperate with departure orders and a risk to public order or national security. Raids can occur between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., even when children are present. While government officials justify the move as a security necessity, human rights organizations have strongly criticized the law, arguing it violates constitutional protections and unfairly equates a lack of legal residency with criminal behavior.