New PVV asylum laws could lead to 19,000 extra lawsuits
The Netherlands is facing a projected surge of 19,000 additional asylum cases in 2028 if two new asylum laws and the European migration pact are implemented, the Council for the Judiciary said, according to Trouw.
The laws, currently before the Eerste Kamer, include the Asylum Emergency Measures Act, which shortens the duration of residence permits, and the “two-status” law, which distinguishes between people fleeing war and violence (B-status) and those fleeing for personal reasons (A-status).
When former PVV Minister of Asylum and Migration Marjolein Faber first announced the two laws, the Council similarly cautioned that they would create a high workload for courts. The upcoming coalition of D66, CDA, and VVD has committed to enacting the laws if approved by the Eerste Kamer.
The Council estimated that 75 percent of asylum seekers receiving a B-status, who have a lower chance of obtaining a residence permit, will appeal their decision. Of the expected 19,000 new cases, approximately 8,500 will involve the “two-status” law.
“The ‘two-status’ law will place a heavy burden on the judiciary,” the Council said in a document prepared for a parliamentary debate Thursday. The Council also warned that the laws will require additional training capacity for judges, potentially affecting cases in criminal, family, or juvenile courts.
Asylum case numbers have been rising steadily in recent years. In 2023, there were 44,500 asylum cases; by 2026, the number had grown to 68,900. The IND expects that implementing the two laws will simplify procedures and shorten waiting times for asylum seekers.
