The Dutch government announced on Friday (September 13) its plans to implement a series of measures in the coming months to restrict immigration, including suspending all new applications. Just a few days ago, Germany announced new border controls to address the staggering number of illegal immigrants.
Led by Geert Wilders of the anti-Islam party “Party for Freedom” (PVV), the new coalition government stated that they will declare the Netherlands in a national asylum crisis, allowing them to take action to curb the influx of immigrants without parliamentary approval.
The opposition has questioned the necessity and legality of this measure, but Marjolein Faber, the immigration minister from the PVV, stated that she is acting within the possibilities granted by the country’s immigration law.
Faber said in a statement on Friday, “We are taking measures to make the Netherlands as unattractive as possible for asylum seekers.”
“The Netherlands is in the midst of an asylum crisis. All places are overcrowded,” she said, adding that the Dutch government will implement the immigration plans agreed upon in the coalition agreement.
Wilders promised last year during the election to implement the strictest immigration rules in the European Union. In May, he successfully formed a cabinet with three right-wing partners and relinquished the opportunity to become prime minister.
The new cabinet, led by former intelligence chief Dick Schoof, who is not affiliated with any party, reaffirmed its goal of seeking exemptions from European Union asylum rules, although Brussels may resist. EU countries have already reached a consensus on their immigration agreements, and exemptions are usually discussed during negotiations.
Schoof stated that the government will request to opt-out of the EU asylum and immigration system, with the request set to be delivered to Brussels next week. He defended the emergency measures and the proposed “asylum crisis law.”
“We cannot continue to bear the influx of immigrants into our country. People are experiencing an asylum crisis,” Schoof said.
According to Reuters, EU spokesperson Eric Mamer, when asked about the possibility of the Netherlands choosing to opt-out, told reporters, “We have passed legislation, and in the EU, you cannot opt-out of legislation that has been passed, that is a general principle.”
As one of the initial measures, the Dutch government stated that it will terminate the issuance of indefinite asylum permits and significantly restrict the options for reunification for those who have already been granted asylum.
Additionally, the government will begin drafting the crisis law, which will halt any decisions on new asylum applications for two years and limit the facilities provided to asylum seekers to “ease the pressure on the housing market.”
Faber noted that these arrangements regarding the new immigration regulations should be prepared before Prinsjesdag, the third Tuesday in September, when King Willem-Alexander will deliver the national address.
Similar to neighboring Germany, the Netherlands also announced plans to implement stricter border controls to combat human trafficking and curb illegal immigration.
While Afghan asylum seekers and refugees in Germany have sought refuge citing threats to their lives, Germany recently deported criminal offenders to Afghanistan by plane.
In accordance with the new immigration restrictions announced by the Dutch government on May 16, asylum seekers whose applications are rejected can only appeal once, and the authorities aim to “expel failed asylum seekers as much as possible, including through forced deportations.”