THE HAGUE — Two bills aimed at imposing stricter regulations on asylum-seekers hoping to reside in the Netherlands have been approved by the Dutch parliament. The passage came after considerable debate and introspection by certain lawmakers who were concerned the laws might penalize those providing humanitarian aid to undocumented migrants.
The new legislation reduces the temporary asylum residency period from five years to three, halts the issuance of new asylum residency permits indefinitely, and places limitations on family reunifications for individuals who have already been granted asylum. It passed in the lower chamber late Thursday night, though it still requires approval from the upper chamber.
The Dutch Red Cross has estimated 23,000 to 58,000 people live in the Netherlands without an official right to residence.
Tough migration controls were a central policy for the four-party coalition, guided by Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom, known for its anti-Islam stance. The coalition recently dissolved after just 11 months, and migration is anticipated to be a significant topic in the upcoming snap election on October 29.
Wilders pulled the plug on the coalition saying it was taking too long to enact moves to rein in migration. His coalition partners rejected the criticism, saying they all backed the crackdown. His party currently holds a narrow lead in opinion polls over a center-left two-party bloc that recently agreed to a formal merger.
The opposition Christian Democrats withdrew their support for the legislation put to the vote Thursday over a late amendment that would criminalize people living in the Netherlands without a valid visa or asylum ruling — and would also criminalize people and organizations that help such undocumented migrants. The amendment was introduced by a member of Wilders’ party and passed narrowly because a small number of opposition lawmakers were not present for the vote.
The vote took place in the final session of parliament before lawmakers broke for the summer. The upper house will consider the legislation after it returns from the recess. If Christian Democrats in the upper chamber reject it, the legislation will be returned to the lower house.
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