Police failed to meet illegal immigrant arrest quota last year

Police handed 3,560 illegal immigrants to the deportation agency last year, below their target of 4,800, current affairs show Nieuwsuur reported on Wednesday evening.

Junior justice minister Fred Teeven has now lowered the quota to 4,000 for 2013, the broadcaster said.

Last year, mayors from most of the Netherlands’ big cities spoke out against the quota because it affected illegal immigrants who were not involved in crime.

The government now plans to make it a criminal offence to live in the Netherlands without proper paperwork but a number of promiment Labour politicians have called on their party not to support the measure.

Earlier stories
Divisions emerge within Labour over illegal immigrant plan
Councils criticise illegal immigrant deportation quota

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