Dutch Police Leadership Denounces New Asylum Law Criminalizing Illegality

police leadership strongly criticizes the new asylum law criminalizing illegality, citing concerns over human rights and practicality.">

The Netherlands’ National Police leadership has voiced “great concerns” regarding the feasibility, scope, and effectiveness of the newly passed asylum law that criminalizes illegal residency. The controversial legislation, recently adopted by the House of Representatives, has sparked widespread debate and ignited criticism from within the police force itself.

Police Chiefs Speak Out Against Asylum Measures

In a statement released on the police intranet, police chief Janny Knol, representing the police force, openly opposed the new legislation. Knol refuted the assumption that every undocumented foreign national is a nuisance or exhibits criminal behaviour, stating that the police force does not recognize this portrayal. Knol also shared on LinkedIn that many colleagues are experiencing moral dilemmas, as their role is to assist vulnerable individuals, not to apprehend them.

Did You Know? The Netherlands, frequently enough called Holland, is a member of the European Union [[2]] and is known as the “low country” due to its geography [[3]].

The police leadership expressed regret that the proposed measures were formulated without consulting them. They emphasized that legislation with such significant implications for implementing organizations, undocumented immigrants, support networks, and overall societal well-being requires thorough consultation and implementation testing. The police welcomed the Council of State’s review of the law.

Concerns Over a ‘Vicious Circle’

The police warn that criminalizing illegal residence could create a “vicious circle,” leading to repeated detention of foreign nationals without prospects of returning to their country of origin. They also highlighted their experience that individuals without aid structures become vulnerable to exploitation, human trafficking, and other forms of crime, ultimately increasing nuisance and crime