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Thursday, 25 June 2015 - 13:35
Report: Many failed asylum seekers still in the Netherlands
Many failed asylum seekers stay in the Netherlands because the government has little success in convincing their home countries to take them back.
This is according to a report by the Advisory Committee on Immigration Affairs, NRC reports.
The Repatriation and Departure Service can not deport rejected asylum seekers if their home countries refuse to take them back. In 2014, 4,400 people were forcibly evicted from the Netherlands. Another 4,110 decided to leave the country on their own. A group of 7,440 failed asylum seekers fell through the cracks. It is not known whether they are still in the Netherlands.
Part of the coalition agreement on asylum seekers is investing in asylum seekers' home countries to help these countries take back their refugees. Politicians often promise that they make every effort to help these countries do so. According to the Advisory Committee, this is not the case.
According to the report, the Dutch government does not put enough effort into convincing failed asylum seekers' home countries to take them back, often having other interests outweigh forced return. This is one of the reasons that failed asylum seekers manage to stay in the Netherlands without threat of being deported. "Exports to these countries and the million contracts of the Dutch business world weighs heavier than forced return for the Dutch government", the report reads.
The Advisory Committee thinks that Dutch politicians should discuss the return of asylum seekers more often during their negotiations with other countries. Countries that cooperate can be rewarded.
This report will be handed to State Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff of Security and Justice, who is responsible for immigration, on Thursday.