The Hague : The Netherlands is considering sending rejected asylum seekers to Uganda, Dutch media reported on Wednesday as the far-right-led government intensified efforts to curb immigration.
Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Reinette Klever yesterday met Ugandan ministers during a visit to the East African nation, NOS public broadcaster reports. A subject of potential policies on migration was discussed during her talks, a subject Klever attached importance to, since one policy by the Dutch government is to reduce migration. “Partially,” Klever added, “by making it clear that this will begin by significantly cutting off funds allocated for immigration purposes.”.
“It’s crucial that the cabinet that has rejected asylum seekers return to their country of origin. And that’s where it sometimes gets stuck,” Klever said. In a nod to Uganda’s historic relationships with the Netherlands, she described it as a “tolerant country,” and Asylum and Migration Minister Marjolein Faber could delve further into the options.
A ministry spokesman confirmed the meeting was at a very preliminary level, and both countries had to assess what could be legally pursued. “The Dutch cabinet must first investigate what the wishes of Uganda and the Netherlands are and what legally is possible and desirable,” said Jeroen van Dommelen in an email to AFP.
This is part of a broader agenda led by Wilders’s PVV, that won quite a sizeable election victory last year. Wilders has promised “the tightest immigration policy ever” against what he branded an “asylum crisis” in the Netherlands.
The Dutch initiative mirrors ongoing debates within the European Union which in turn have seen policies on migration and deportation receive much attention in relation to this fact: just recently the EU adopted the main reform of its asylum system with the launch date set for June 2026.
Far-right political gains in several European countries have kept migration at the top of the agenda, with EU ministers gathering recently in Luxembourg to discuss “innovative” solutions for dealing with rejected asylum seekers, including proposals for deportation centers outside the bloc.
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