On 20 March 2025, Anneleen Van Bossuyt announced that the Immigration Office set up a new WhatsApp channel: ‘Belgian Migration Office’ to prevent misunderstandings and false expectations among potential asylum seekers. This tool is used not only to provide information about "the strictest asylum and migration policy ever" but also to send targeted deterrent messages. Besides this, the first YouTube campaigns have also been launched, targeting both transit countries and countries of origin. Pilot campaigns are currently underway in Greece and Bulgaria, targeting asylum seekers from Cameroon and Guinea, with the message that Belgium’s reception system is full. According to the Minister, the videos have already reached nearly 17.000 views in just a few days. These actions align with the recent government agreement, which called for the intensification and modernisation of deterrence campaigns, including online.

Following the launch of these campaigns, various reactions have been heard. François Gemenne, director of the Migration Flows Observatory, stated that these campaigns are mainly aimed at Belgians, giving them the impression that the issue is being tackled head-on and that the approach is tougher and stricter. Sotieta Ngo, director of CIRE, criticised the message conveyed by such campaigns: 'Don't come to Belgium', stressing that "it already goes against a right".

For further details, please read the press release from Anneleen Van Bossuyt.