Dutch parliament opposed to detention for families
During a debate with Integration Minister Rita Verdonk, parliament has expressed its opposition to the detention of failed asylum seekers with underage children. However, parliament is divided on the issue. Most of the opposition parties believe such families should never be placed in detention, while the coalition parties say this should be possible to prevent asylum seekers families staying on in the Netherlands illegally.
Minister Verdonk said detention is a last resort in cases where failed asylum seekers refuse to cooperate in their expulsion. Parents can then choose to take their children with them into detention or entrust them to temporary foster parents. There are twelve children in detention at present.
Source: Radio Netherlands, 27 September 2006
