Roveredo Reports: Permits Are Not an Accident (cross-border guide)

Context

TL;DR

• Roveredo criticizes Grisons Government's response to residence permits for individuals involved in anti-mafia investigation.
• Lack of communication between cantons on individuals suspected of or involved in criminal activities.
• Roveredo requests formal protocols for timely information on individuals' status.
• Need for updated legislation and shared database to ensure security and transparency.

Key facts

• Data: April 3rd
• Luogo: Roveredo, Grisons, Switzerland
• Evento: Arrest of four residents in anti-mafia investigation
• Autorità: Swiss and international authorities, Grisons Migration Office
• Problema: Lack of communication between cantons on individuals suspected of or involved in criminal activities
• Richiesta: Implementation of formal and systematic protocols for timely information on individuals' status

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Operational details

The technical analysis of the case highlights how Swiss regulations on residence permits were formally respected, but showed substantial limitations in terms of coherence and prevention. The current legislation, particularly the directives of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (DFE) and the procedures of the Migration Office, provide that permits are issued in accordance with national laws and international agreements, such as the Schengen Agreement. However, this regulation does not fully take into account the risk of criminal infiltration, especially when it comes to individuals with prior convictions or suspected by other authorities. The cantonal discretion in assessing risks clashes with the lack of a centralized alert system, which could integrate penal records, judicial precedents, and security reports. A comparison between the various cantons shows significant differences in release policies: Ticino, for example, has adopted a more cautious approach, denying more permits than the Grisons, which are more permissive. The following table summarizes the main differences:

| Canton | Permits Issued | Evaluation Criteria | Alert System | |------------|---------------------|------------------------|------------------| | Ticino | More restrictive release | Stricter preventive evaluation | Limited, without centralized system | | Grigioni | More permissive permits | Discretionary evaluation | Lack of alert protocol |

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Key points

To address the issue concretely, municipalities like Roveredo are calling for the introduction of official protocols that enable timely information on the status of individuals involved in investigations or reports. The first step involves defining a communication protocol between the cantonal authorities and the municipalities, which would require immediate notification to the local administration in the presence of suspected or convicted individuals. To initiate this procedure, the following steps are taken:

1. A formal request from the Roveredo Municipality to the Grisons Migration Office, highlighting the challenges and proposing the adoption of a shared protocol. 2. Organizing inter-cantonal meetings between security authorities to define the modalities of information exchange and timelines. 3. Implementing an automated alert system that integrates penal databases and police reports. 4. Training personnel involved to respect new communication and security standards.

In parallel, a legislative update is requested at the federal level to ensure that this communication is mandatory and regulated nationwide. The proposal also includes the use of secure digital platforms that enable rapid and traceable information exchange.

For the Municipality of Roveredo, this strategy represents a crucial step in improving local security and risk management. Collaboration between different levels of government is essential, and the creation of clear and shared protocols can prevent risk situations from escalating into security crises.

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