Dutch Senate approves measures to tighten asylum rules and remove penalty payments
The Eerste Kamer voted to eliminate penalty payments to asylum seekers and to broaden the ‘unwanted declaration’, making deportations easier.
On Tuesday evening the Eerste Kamer approved two steps to make Dutch asylum policy stricter. The legislation removes the compulsory payments that the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) has been required to make to asylum seekers whose applications linger too long. It also widens the ‘unwanted declaration’, allowing authorities to detain and more readily deport individuals deemed disruptive.
These measures were incorporated into the new Wet terugkeer en vreemdelingenbewaring after the earlier Asielnoodmaatregelenwet was rejected. The Tweede Kamer had already supported the two items in June. Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink said the changes will be put into effect within the coming week.
Why it matters
The changes could speed up asylum decisions and increase deportations, affecting thousands of pending applicants.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report that the Dutch Senate approved measures ending forced fines for asylum seekers and easing the declaration of unwanted asylum seekers, with no substantive differences in coverage.
LEFT
Left-leaning coverage frames the story as a tightening of asylum rules and the removal of penalty payments to asylum seekers.
CENTER
Center coverage frames the story as a majority vote that eliminates forced fines and makes it easier to label and deport criminal asylum seekers.
The left emphasises
- make Dutch asylum policy stricter
- remove compulsory payments to asylum seekers
- widen the ‘unwanted declaration’ to detain and more readily deport disruptive individuals
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