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| Swiss vote whether to expel foreigners for minor crimes | Swiss vote whether to expel foreigners for minor crimes |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| People in Switzerland vote on Sunday on whether to automatically expel foreigners who commit minor crimes. | People in Switzerland vote on Sunday on whether to automatically expel foreigners who commit minor crimes. |
| The proposal has been put forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party. | The proposal has been put forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party. |
| The vote comes as unease grows among Swiss people at rising immigration and the social problems which, the People's Party says, come with it. | The vote comes as unease grows among Swiss people at rising immigration and the social problems which, the People's Party says, come with it. |
| But opponents say the law will create a two-tier justice system which will unfairly target foreigners who live permanently and legally in Switzerland. | But opponents say the law will create a two-tier justice system which will unfairly target foreigners who live permanently and legally in Switzerland. |
| More than five million people are entitled to vote - not including the two million or so foreign nationals living there. | More than five million people are entitled to vote - not including the two million or so foreign nationals living there. |
| If adopted, the proposal known as the "Enforcement Initiative" would strengthen moves adopted in 2010 to deport foreigners convicted of murder or sexual violence. | If adopted, the proposal known as the "Enforcement Initiative" would strengthen moves adopted in 2010 to deport foreigners convicted of murder or sexual violence. |
| The Swiss People's Party is now seeking automatic deportation with no right of appeal if a foreigner commits two minor offences within 10 years such as speeding or arguing with a police officer. | The Swiss People's Party is now seeking automatic deportation with no right of appeal if a foreigner commits two minor offences within 10 years such as speeding or arguing with a police officer. |
| Supporters of the proposals say it will make Switzerland a safer place, and point to statistics indicating that foreigners make up a disproportionately large part of the prison population. | |
| Opinion polls suggest the vote will be close. | Opinion polls suggest the vote will be close. |
| But if the Swiss do vote yes, they will have adopted some of the strictest laws on foreigners in Europe, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says. | But if the Swiss do vote yes, they will have adopted some of the strictest laws on foreigners in Europe, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says. |