Since 26 April 2021, 121 people have applied for asylum in Luxembourg. In 22 cases, the belongings of the applicants were searched.
These details are provided by Minister of Immigration Jean Asselborn, in his answer to a parliamentary question from the Left Party (Déi Lénk). The corresponding law provides for the possibility of both a body search and a search of an applicant's personal belongings, should there be doubts about their identity or background.
The Minister confirms that in the case of searches, mobile phones belonging to applicants may also be examined. However, Asselborn stressed in his reply that "this is not a forensic search of an electronic device, but a simple viewing of its contents".
The search is not systematic and is only carried out in cases where the interview reveals serious and well-founded doubts about the identity and truthfulness of the applicant's account, particularly when the applicant has no identity documents.
Of the 22 people searched since 26 April, 20 have had their phones consulted by the police officers conducting the interviews.
The consultation of smartphones often reveals the background of the applicant, their previous stays, which is particularly important in the context of a so-called "Dublin" procedure, which obliges refugees to lodge their application for international protection in the EU country in which they first arrived. If the smartphone is locked, applicants must give their consent to unlock it so that police can view its contents.
