Uccle Asylum Centre Opening Delayed After Judge Recusal
The opening of a new Fedasil asylum reception centre in Uccle, Brussels, has been postponed indefinitely after the presiding judge recused herself from the case for imperative medical reasons, according to RTBF. The delay affects 230 applicants for international protection who had already packed their belongings in anticipation of moving into the former Armonea nursing home at Rue Beeckman.
Background
The planned centre, to be operated by Samusocial on behalf of Fedasil, was intended to house families — mainly single-parent households — along with unaccompanied minors and isolated individuals currently residing in Koekelberg. Approximately 30 employees were set to provide round-the-clock supervision at the facility.
The project has been mired in controversy since it was first announced in late June. Opposing residents filed a legal challenge on July 9, contesting whether the building’s change of use had proper urban planning authorizations. The municipality of Uccle joined the proceedings as an “intervention volontaire,” seeking legal clarity rather than opposing the project on principle.
Key Developments
On July 13, the Brussels Court of First Instance suspended the move — originally scheduled for July 14 — to allow time to examine the residents’ petition. The court imposed penalties of €1,000 per day for violations, capped at €50,000.
As reported by RTBF, Samusocial director general Sarah de Liamchine described the emotional toll on residents: “I just told dozens of women, men, and children that their move was postponed. For days they have been living with the bare minimum. Everything non-essential has been packed, including the toys of dozens of children.”
On July 24, the presiding judge recused herself due to “imperative medical reasons,” as confirmed by Uccle Mayor Valentine Delwart (MR). The recusal means that when a new judge takes over at the next hearing on August 5, the entire case must restart from scratch.
“The pleadings will have to be re-done. That said, this is an interim relief judge, so in principle he won’t take days and days to deliver his ruling,” Mayor Delwart told RTBF.
Community Divisions
The controversy has deeply split the Uccle community. Opposing residents launched a petition against the centre that gathered over 1,300 signatures. In response, the Collectif pour une Uccle hospitalière and Uccle Solidaire launched a counter-petition that also surpassed 1,300 signatures.
“We refuse that the opponents speak on behalf of the entire municipality,” the counter-petition organizers told L’Avenir. The tensions escalated to the point where hate calls prompted Uccle to request a police investigation.
Broader Asylum Context
The delay comes against the backdrop of a chronic Belgian asylum reception crisis. Fedasil has faced multiple court convictions for failing to shelter asylum seekers, and in April 2026, staff at Fedasil reception centres went on strike over deteriorating working conditions and what they described as “daily violations of the rule of law and human dignity,” as reported by VRT NWS. Families with children have been sleeping on the streets due to lack of shelter availability.
Fedasil has also faced significant financial setbacks in recent years, including a €12.5 million dispute over a reception centre lease in Molenbeek, as The Brussels Times reported.
What’s Next
All eyes are now on the August 5 hearing, when a new judge will take over the case. While the legal process restarts from scratch, the expedited nature of interim relief proceedings means a decision could come relatively quickly. Mayor Delwart noted that the municipality’s goal is straightforward: “We want to know whether the move can take place in that building, with the planned number of people.”
For the 230 asylum seekers whose lives remain in limbo, the wait — already prolonged by legal wrangling and now an unusual judicial recusal — shows no immediate sign of resolution.