Dutch asylum policy hit by new report

The Dutch deportation policy of rejected asylum seekers is malfunctioning, according to the Commission for Integrated Monitoring Return (CITT) in the yearly report from 2013, De Telegraaf reports. The number of aliens forcibly leaving the country is decreasing, while the child pardon and the limiting of pre-deportation detention is putting further pressure on the deportation policy, the CITT writes. The CITT, an independent commission led by ex-diplomat and previous MP for CDA Gualthérie van Weezel, says that the deportation of illegal aliens has become an unmanageable task. "After more than six years, the commission has come to the judgement that with the current state of affairs, effectively deporting aliens - also by all the guarantees, legal regulations and legal aid - has become a virtually impossible task for all co-workers related to the deportation." The commission, which reports to State Secretary Fred Teeven (Security and Justice), points to all the cancelled flights originally booked to transport rejected asylum seekers back to their countries. The CITT also warns that limiting pre-deportation detention of aliens, which Teeven is pushing through under pressure from the PvdA, will "in all likeliness lead to it that this will only increase." According to the rules, nobody who is going to be deported may be informed of this decision 48 hours beforehand. Whoever isn't detained, can easily choose to flee. Van Weezel adds that the child pardon has led to other families, who do not fall under the pardon, being less cooperative in voluntary return. Leftist parties, and Child Ombudsman Marc Dullaert are pleading for the pardon policy to be broadened to include more families. The CITT report states that the number of aliens who return with help from the International Migration Organization has also decreased. The number of rejected asylum seekers that leave of their own accord has increased slightly from 13 to 14 percent. The report judges that the Netherlands is on par, or doing better than other countries with regards to its humane treatment of aliens at shelters and during deportation. The PvdA, however, has said that the deportation policy should become more humane.