Entry bans and expulsions
In order to protect internal and external security, fedpol has the power to issue entry bans and expulsion orders against foreign nationals. In 2024, fedpol imposed an expulsion order for war crimes for the first time.
Based on Article 67 paragraph 4 and Article 68 of the Federal Act on Foreign Nationals and Integration, fedpol may impose entry bans and expulsion orders on foreign nationals on the grounds that they pose a threat to Switzerland’s internal or external security. fedpol does this either on the basis of its own findings or at the request of other authorities, in particular the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS).
| Entry bans | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrorism | 144 | 92 | 19 | 81 | 126 |
| Violent extremism | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 35 |
| Organised crime | 4 | 25 | 15 | 16 | 43 |
| Espionage | 19 | 70 | 276 | 75 | 34 |
| Total | 167 | 187 | 312 | 173 | 238 |
The number of entry bans rose sharply in 2024 compared to the previous year; the majority relate to terrorism. In cases of terrorism and organised crime, information from foreign partners that is admissible in court helps to impose entry bans with a low expenditure of resources. fedpol received more information from abroad in 2024 and was therefore able to issue more entry bans. Espionage continues to return to pre-2022 levels; 2022 marked the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
| Expulsions | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrorism | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Organised crime | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| War crimes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Enforced | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Not/not yet enforced | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
Four expulsions were ordered in 2024. fedpol ordered the expulsion of three terrorist suspects. For the first time in history, fedpol issued an expulsion order for war crimes.
In its statistics, fedpol distinguishes between enforced and non-enforced expulsions, as not every expulsion order can be implemented immediately. There are many reasons for this, such as the principle of non-refoulement* or ongoing appeal or criminal proceedings.
* No Contracting State shall expel or return a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion (Art. 33, Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, available in German, French and Italian).
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