Another round of deportations for refused asylum seekers

1 February 2008

THE HAGUE – About 5,000 asylum seekers who have exhausted their appeals are not eligible for amnesty and must leave the Netherlands. State secretary for Justice Nebahat Albayrak predicts that carrying out the deportations will make 2008 a "very difficult year."

The deportation of these people will require enormous efforts, the minister said on Friday after the cabinet meeting.

The 5,000 people have been denied amnesty either because they are suspected of war crimes, have a criminal past, or lied repeatedly about their identity. The first deportations have already taken place, Albayrak says.

The thousands of other refused asylum seekers will be brought to a shelter to make arrangements for their repatriation in the coming 12 weeks.

Subject: Dutch news