Cabinet approves asylum plans from Minister Faber

News item | 20-12-2024 | 14:55

Minister Faber: “This is what the Dutch people want: a fundamental change in policy to curtail the influx and promote returns. I am happy that the cabinet has agreed to these plans.”

Asylum Emergency Measures Act

Three legislative proposals will be sent to the Council of State for its advice. The Asylum Emergency Measures Act includes the abolition of permanent residence permits, limiting the period of validity of asylum permits to three years, broadening the order declaring a person an undesirable foreign national, limiting travel to the Netherlands in connection with family reunification to nuclear families and measures to make asylum procedures more efficient.

Two-status system

Faber is also proposing a so-called two-status system. The legislative proposal distinguishes between refugees and people receiving protection on other grounds. This provides additional possibilities for reducing the influx of family members of people in that second group travelling to the Netherlands for family reunification. 

A large group of people are currently waiting abroad to come to the Netherlands. This legislative proposal will impose more conditions on family reunification for some of this group, such as a waiting period, and housing and income requirements for the person in the Netherlands they are joining.

Repatriation and Detention of Aliens Act

Finally, the Council of State will consider an amendment to the legislative proposal for the Repatriation and Detention of Aliens Act. Among other things, this legislative proposal provides that non-cooperation with deportation will become a criminal offence and that the distinction between criminal detainees and immigration detainees will be more sharply defined. This law also gives more powers to implementing organisations to share data that will help determine the origin of foreign nationals so that they can be returned.

Previous measures

Minister Faber had already previously taken or announced measures such as the introduction of border controls, expansion of the possibilities for deporting criminal aliens, an opt-out from future changes to European asylum treaties and termination of the National Aliens Facilities as of 1 January 2025. 

Clear message

Minister Faber: “All these measures together send a clear message. This government is aiming for the toughest asylum regime and the strictest admission requirements ever. The government expects these measures to help reduce the influx and also have a positive effect on returns. This concerns foreign nationals who have no right of residence and foreign nationals who are able to return once the security situation in their country of origin improves. With fewer influx and more returns, the pressure on the IND and asylum reception will also decrease, and with it the pressure on housing, care and education.”