Justice Sec. scraps departure bonus for undocumented Moroccans, Algerians

State Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff of Security and Justice decided to scrap the bonus offered to undocumented Moroccans and Algerians if they leave the Netherlands voluntarily, he announced on Tuesday, ANP reports.

The number of Moroccans and Algerians applying for asylum in the Nehtelrands has been increasining since July. In October most of the asylum applications filed in the Netherlands came from Moroccans, followed by Algerians. As Morocco and Algeria are considered "safe" countries, these asylum seekers have little chance of gaining refugee status and being allowed to stay in the Netherlands.

According to Dijkhoff, these applicants know that they have very little chance, but the go through the procedure to gain access to facilities and shelter. He believes that the "departure bonus" unfairly created the image that there is a sack of money in the Netherlands for them to pic up. He points out that the asylum proceudre is meant for genuine refugees, not people who are safe in their own homes.