Demonstration in The Hague against the criminalization of irregular residence
More than a thousand people gathered in The Hague to protest the Dutch government's plan to criminalize illegal residency. Among the demonstrators were individuals currently living in the Netherlands without legal status, determined to make their presence known and have their voices heard.
The demonstration was organized by the FNV union branch concerned with migrant issues, supported by more than a hundred organizations united under the Stop Asylum Laws coalition. The event began with speeches delivered by organizations such as Doctors of the World and the FNV union, followed by a protest march through the city streets.
The protest came in response to legislation approved by the House of Representatives in July, aimed at making illegal residency in the Netherlands a punishable offense. Last month, the Council of State ruled that aid workers could also face penalties if they provided support to illegal residents. This sparked controversy, prompting interim Justice Minister Van Veld to pledge to amend the law so that assisting illegal residents would not be considered a crime, while illegal residency itself would remain punishable.
Due to this amendment, the proposals must return to the House of Representatives and then be discussed later in the Senate. The protesters assert that the law should not only be amended but should be completely withdrawn. They fear that this will push undocumented residents into further isolation, making their lives more precarious.
Mertha van der Stuy from the FNV union for migrant domestic workers said that undocumented migrants often work in essential sectors such as cleaning where demand is high. She added in an interview with NOS: "We need to create better laws for these people so they can work safely and with dignity." Van der Stuy warned that criminalizing undocumented residency would increase fear, isolation, and vulnerability among this already suffering group.
In July, three government inspection bodies warned Minister Van Veld of the Netherlands that such laws could drive undocumented residents to completely withdraw from society, making them more vulnerable to exploitation and crime. Despite government amendments, protesters in The Hague insist that the tightened asylum procedures must be completely abolished.