News item | 20-12-2024 | 2:55 PM
Minister Faber (Asylum and Migration) has presented an extensive package of measures to limit the influx into our asylum system as much as possible. The Council of Ministers has agreed to send the bills to the Council of State. Faber is satisfied with this step towards the strictest asylum policy ever.
Minister Faber: “This is what the Dutch want: a fundamental change in policy to limit the influx and promote return. I am pleased that the Council of Ministers has agreed to these plans.”
Emergency Asylum Measures Act
Three proposals now go to the Council of State for advice. The Emergency Asylum Measures Act includes, among other things, the abolition of permanent residence permits, limiting the validity of asylum permits to three years, expanding the declaration of undesirability, limiting travel in connection with family reunification to nuclear families and measures to make asylum procedures more efficient.
Two-state system
In addition, Faber proposes a so-called two-status system. The bill makes a distinction between refugees and people who receive protection on other grounds. This provides additional opportunities to reduce the influx of follow-up travelers from people in that second group.
A large group of people are currently waiting abroad to come to the Netherlands. This bill will impose more conditions on family reunification for part of this group, such as a waiting period, access to housing and income.
Return and Aliens Detention Act
Finally, the Council of State will consider an amendment to the return and immigration detention bill. This bill provides, among other things, that failure to cooperate in deportation will become a punishable offense and that the distinction between criminal detainees and immigration detention will be more clearly defined. This law also gives more powers to the implementing organizations to share data that helps to determine the origin of foreigners so that they can be returned.
Previous measures
Minister Faber has previously taken or announced measures, such as the introduction of border controls, expansion of the options for deporting criminal aliens, an opt-out from future changes to European asylum treaties and termination of the National Aliens Facility as of January 1, 2025.
Clear signal
Minister Faber: “All these measures together send a clear signal. This cabinet is aiming for the strictest asylum regime and the strictest admission requirements ever. The cabinet expects that such measures will contribute to reducing the influx and also have a positive effect on return. this concerns aliens who are not entitled to residence and aliens who can return when the security situation in their country of origin improves. Due to less influx and more returns, the pressure on the IND and asylum reception, and therefore the pressure on housing, care and services. education.”