Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

Following the example of neighboring France, opposition voices have grown louder in Belgium, calling for a ban on marriages between undocumented immigrants in the country, a move they describe as a "loophole for illegal immigration." According to a statement issued by Belgium's opposition party, Vlaams Belang, under the current government of Bart De Wever, undocumented immigrants can still marry in Belgium and thus obtain residency more easily. This is evident in a written response from Minister Verlinden to a question from Vlaams Belang. Party member Franziska Van Beleghem explained: "This is nothing but a loophole for uncontrolled immigration."
While civil servants are tasked with the impossible task of detecting sham marriages—that is, marriages conducted solely to obtain residency—they are explicitly told that they "cannot refuse to report and prove the marriage simply because the foreigner is residing illegally in Belgium."
In other words, undocumented immigrants are allowed to marry, presumably to obtain residency faster. This is insane. How can the De Wever government, on the one hand, seek to combat sham marriages, while on the other, grant undocumented foreigners the right to marry? This is nothing more than a loophole for uncontrolled immigration, as Van Belleghem warned of the consequences. According to a statement by Belgium's far-right party, neighboring France is striving to abolish marriages among undocumented migrants. The French Senate has backed a bill prohibiting undocumented migrants from marrying in France, as part of the government's efforts to combat illegal immigration. This bill aims to close loopholes that facilitate obtaining a residence permit or French citizenship through marriage. The Vlaams Belang party also agrees: marriages should only be concluded if both partners are legal residents of the country. Van Belleghem notes, "Otherwise, it's typical Belgian immigration policy: giving what is forbidden with the other hand. It's unfortunate to see the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) so enthusiastically support this." The Vlaams Belang party wants to stop hypocrisy by legally banning marriage for unregistered foreigners.