Overview
- Demissionary minister David van Weel proposed inserting the line “Deelnemen aan dit misdrijf, anders dan als pleger, is niet strafbaar” to ensure that assisting undocumented people is not an offense.
- Van Weel told MPs it is “unthinkable” for prosecutors to pursue those who help undocumented migrants and said the law will not lead to large-scale crackdowns.
- PVV and CDA signaled they can accept the fix and SGP expressed reassurance, pointing to likely passage, with formal votes expected this week before the Senate takes up the bill.
- D66 and GroenLinks-PvdA remained critical, citing police and return service warnings about operational strains, fewer returns, and limited prison capacity.
- The change follows a narrowly passed PVV amendment in the summer and is presented by the minister as an extra instrument to speed the return of people who have exhausted procedures.