Most credible recent estimate (SEM):

• The Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) estimated that between about 58,000 and 105,000 undocumented migrants (“sans-papiers”) live in Switzerland, with ~76,000 often cited as the central or best-guess figure. 

📌 Other (less official) estimates:

• Some advocacy groups and reports have cited higher numbers (e.g., up to ~150,000 undocumented migrants), but these are usually broader estimates that aren’t based on a specific government count. 

US Numbers.

Best-Supported Estimate

• ~14 million people were estimated to be living in the U.S. without full legal status in 2023, a record high according to a major Pew Research Center analysis. This includes people who either entered without authorization or who stayed after their legal status expired.

Penalties for illegal immigration in Switzerland-

If someone is found to be **living in Switzerland without valid legal status (“illegal stay” / sans-papiers), the consequences are both administrative and potentially criminal under Swiss law. The exact outcome depends on circumstances (how long they’ve been in the country, criminal history, whether they worked illegally, etc.), but here are the main possible consequences based on Swiss law and practice:

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1. Deportation (Removal from Switzerland)

• Authorities will generally order a person to leave Switzerland if they have no valid residency status. This is the typical first step once undocumented status is identified. 

• The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) or cantonal migration authorities make the official decision. 

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2. Deportation Ban

• After being ordered to leave, the person may receive a ban on re-entry for a period (commonly ~2–3 years). 

• This ban can be applied even if someone leaves voluntarily under an order.

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3. Penalties under Criminal Law

Even simple illegal stay is treated as an offence:

• Under Swiss law (Foreign Nationals and Integration Act), staying unlawfully can be charged as a crime. A conviction can lead to:

• **A custodial sentence (jail) of up to 1 year, or

• A fine. 

Important clarification:

• Criminal prosecution is separate from administrative removal — someone can be both removed and criminally convicted. 

⸻

4. Deportation-Related Detention

• Authorities can hold a person in detention pending removal, not as punishment but to ensure the removal actually happens.

• This administrative detention can last up to 18 months, depending on legal review. 

During detention, a judge must review legality within a short period (often within 96 hours). 

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5. Fines or Criminal Record

• A conviction for illegal stay would appear on a criminal record in Switzerland. 

• If the person worked without a permit, they could face additional fines and charges for labor-related offences. Employers who hire undocumented workers can also be fined or prosecuted. 

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6. Other Impacts

Even without formal legal penalties, being undocumented often has indirect consequences:

• Limited access to formal jobs, social services, or education, except in narrowly defined hardship or special cases. 

• Vulnerability to exploitation due to fear of detection.

I think it's time for you to shut the fuck up about my country faggot.

Switzerland is meaningfully harsher in how the law is structured.

Here’s the careful comparison.

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Where they are similar

Both the U.S. and Switzerland commonly use:

1. Removal / deportation

• If you’re found to be unlawfully present, the default outcome in both countries is an order to leave.

2. Administrative detention

• Both countries can detain someone not as punishment, but to ensure deportation actually happens.

• Detention is legally reviewed and has maximum time limits.

3. Re-entry bans

• Both impose multi-year bans on returning after removal.

At a distance, that makes them look roughly comparable.

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The key difference (this matters)

Illegal stay itself

• Switzerland:

👉 Criminal offense

• Unlawful stay can lead to criminal prosecution

• Possible fine or up to 1 year in jail

• Creates a criminal record

• United States:

👉 Civil immigration violation

• Merely being present without status is not a crime

• No jail sentence just for unlawful presence

• No criminal conviction for presence alone

This is the biggest structural difference.

In the U.S., criminal charges arise only if someone:

• Re-enters after removal

• Uses fraud or false documents

• Commits unrelated crimes

In Switzerland, presence alone can be prosecuted.

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Detention comparison (important nuance)

• Switzerland

• Administrative detention can last up to 18 months

• Used more readily relative to population size

• Smaller country → enforcement is tighter and more visible

• United States

• Detention length varies, but prolonged detention is often tied to:

• Criminal history

• Re-entry

• Asylum complications

• Many people are released pending hearings

So while the U.S. has more detainees in absolute numbers, Switzerland applies detention more uniformly.

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Enforcement reality vs law on paper

• Switzerland

• High internal enforcement capacity

• Smaller population

• Cantonal police checks make detection more likely

• Less room to “blend in”

• United States

• Massive population

• Interior enforcement is uneven

• Millions live undocumented for years without contact

So even where penalties overlap, risk of detection is higher in Switzerland.