The Netherlands announced tough new measures on Friday to tackle the country's out-of-control migration crisis and will also formally request to withdraw from the European Union's lax asylum and migration policies when the European Commission meets in Brussels next week.
Immigration
Around 50,000 migrants, mainly from Africa and the Middle East, sought asylum in the northwestern European country last year, up from 35,000 in 2022.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Refugees and Migration (Google Translated):
The Netherlands cannot cope with the large number of migrants: refugee reception centres are overcrowded, processing times are long and costs are soaring. Moreover, the constant influx of asylum seekers is causing problems in the areas of social housing, health and education.
To regain control, the current government is implementing the strictest asylum regime ever. … By limiting inflows, speeding up procedures, taking immediate action against violators, tightening border controls, limiting family reunification options and focusing on deportations, the Netherlands aims to become a European leader on immigration rules.
“The voters gave a clear mandate: we have to change course and reduce the influx immediately. We are taking steps to make the Netherlands as unattractive as possible for asylum seekers. And anyone who abuses our hospitality has no place here. I want a safer Netherlands,” said Minister for Refugees and Migration Marjolein Faber.
Reports of displaced migrants sleeping outside in overcrowded reception centers in the cold Dutch winter, as well as problems with assimilating different immigrant groups into Dutch culture, led to a right-wing victory in the November 2023 general election. The new governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Hendrix (Dick) Schoof, has promised to tackle the immigration issue.
“We cannot continue to tolerate a large influx of immigrants into our country. People are experiencing a refugee crisis,” Shoaf said.
What's the solution?
Emergency legislation to address the situation would give the government much stricter control over who enters the Netherlands and would allow it to refuse asylum seekers who do not show up for their hearings, another widely reported problem.
The new law would allow the government to freeze new asylum applications and, if necessary, deport migrants without residence permits. Adult migrants hoping to reunite with their families in the Netherlands could be prevented from doing so.
Of course, leaving the EU on immigration policy is not a done deal – in fact, most people see it as unlikely.
“We have made the law, and in the EU you cannot back away from the law you make,” EU spokesman Eric Mamer said on Friday. “That's the general principle.”
The same Dutch government voted in favour of all the rules introduced in the EU's new migration and refugee pact in May this year.
So, ultimately, the question arises: is this a serious attempt to change the existing Dutch immigration strategy or simply an attempt to impress voters?
The problem with letting an external organisation like the EU control what is acceptable for your country is that they will enforce the rules whether you agree with them or not.
And we must ask ourselves: do we have a nation?
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