Return - IOM Publications - International Organization for Migration

69
CZECH REPUBLIC
The Czech Ministry of Interior lists the numbers of expulsions annually from 1993, which
amounted to 730 in that year to over 3,000 in 2002.
While the number of administrative expulsion orders has gradually increased, their implementation
by the police authorities is still low. Often, this is due to lack of cooperation with some of
the countries of origin and the difficulty therefore of obtaining travel documents for returns and,
in the case of distant countries of origin such as India and China, lack of financial means for
airfares.
1.5 BEST PRACTICES AND LESSONS LEARNED
The Ministry of Interior and the Aliens and Border Police are currently considering best practices
on the basis of experience accrued since 1993.
2. ASSISTED VOLUNTARY RETURN
2.1 ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROCEDURAL ARRANGEMENTS
Institutions Responsible for Voluntary Return
AVRs can be carried out both by the state through its Ministry of Interior – the Department for
Asylum and Migration Policies, the Asylum Facilities Administration and the Directorate of the
Aliens and Border Police – as well as IOM. All expenses for the return are covered by the Czech
Republic. Voluntary return is often availed of also as an alternative to administrative expulsion,
at least for those willing to return home.
Operational Steps for Voluntary Return
TABLE 4
EXPULSIONS
Year Number of Expulsions
2000 2,307
2001 3,019
2002 3,270
Total 8,596
For AVRs implemented by the Ministry of Interior, assistance is available to asylum seekers
withdrawing their applications. They have 24 hours to apply for return assistance (ticket and
transit money) usually by land transportation, and not always to the country of origin.