Netherlands Starts Clearing Backlog of Identification and Registration of Asylum Seekers

The Ministry of Justice of the Netherlands said in one of its most recent press releases that the process of clearing the backlog started on August 15, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

In addition, the same explained that by making such efforts, organisations want to prevent new queues of asylum seekers in Ter Apel as well as allow asylum seekers with a pre-registration to go through the identification and registration without delay.

According to the Ministry, only around 2,000 asylum seekers who are staying in facilities for crisis reception in the Netherlands have been registered with the IND in Ter Apel. The authorities called on these people to go through the identification and registration process with the police in Budel.

The Ministry explains that asylum seekers who report to Ter Apel for the first time are required to go through the identification process on locations. After that, they are transported to a crisis reception facility until there is available place in a regular COA centre.

“The aim is that all asylum seekers with a pre-registration in crisis reception will have gone through the I&R process within six weeks,” the Ministry stated.

Even though the Dutch authorities have increased their efforts to identify and register asylum seekers, it has been pointed out that the pressure on the immigration system remains high.

All persons who wish to apply for asylum in the Netherlands are required to report at the application centre of the IND in Ter Apel. After their pre-registration, which is done by IND, the police carry out the identification as well as registration of asylum seekers. After that, the asylum procedure at the IND begins, and the COA provides asylum seekers with reception, support, and guidance.

The number of asylum applications has been increasing compared to 2020. Figures provided by IND showed that a total of 4,376 asylum applications were filed in the Netherlands only in July. The top five countries of origin of asylum seekers who filed an application for asylum in July were Syria, Türkiye, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Eritrea.

Due to the high number of asylum seekers and lack of accommodation at Ter Apel, around 700 persons were reported to have slept in open skies. In addition, it was reported that a three-month-old infant living at the centre was announced dead.