Why returning rejected asylum seekers is difficult
In the media image: Fer Troulik on Unsplash
Why can't we just send rejected asylum seekers back? Mark Klaassen, assistant professor of migration law, explains the issues involved in ‘EenVandaag’ on NPO Radio 1.
According to Klaassen, there are three parties involved when it comes to return migration: the migrant themselves, the Dutch government, and the country of origin. When an individual cannot be located by the authorities, or the country of origin fails to issue travel documents, deportation can stall. Lengthy asylum procedures can also hamper returns. Klaassen explains that the longer people have to wait, the less willing they become to leave. He therefore sees possibilities for improvements by introducing shorter procedures and achieving better cooperation with countries of origin.
The possible use of return hubs was also discussed. According to Klaassen, such facilities in third countries can play a role for smaller numbers of people, for example as an incentive for individuals to return voluntarily to their country of origin. However, he warns against overly high expectations: ‘You can present that as the big solution to the whole problem, but I don't believe it’s going to work.’
More information
Listen to the EenVandaag broadcast (from 1:12:33, in Dutch)
Read the corresponding EenVandaag article (in Dutch).