Minister meets “cup of soup” concerns with new immigration bill

The government has removed clauses making it a criminal offence to help people in the Netherlands without proper paperwork from draft legislation aimed at reducing asylum claims, following recommendations by the Council of State.

The state’s most important advisory body this summer that the plan could make even limited support for people without residency papers, such as offering them a bowl of soup, a crime.

The controversial clause was added into new refugee legislation at the insistence of the PVV, with backing from the VVD and SGP, shortly before the summer recess.

The revised legislation will make it an offence to be in the Netherlands as an “illegal immigrant” without a permit, and human trafficking will remain a crime, justice minister David van Weel said.

The cabinet hopes the change will be enough to get the legislation passed in both houses of parliament before the general election. However, given the lower house breaks up on October 3 for the election campaign, insiders say there may not be enough time for a vote before the new batch of MPs are sworn in.

The legislation will also abolish permanent residency status for refugees, requiring them to reapply for permission to stay every three years.

It will also prevent settled refugees from being joined by their partners and children until they have lived in the Netherlands for two years and have both a home and an income. Adult children would not be allowed to join them at all.