Dutch Asylum Laws Could Trigger 19,000 New Court Cases
The Netherlands could face 19,000 extra asylum-related lawsuits by 2028 if two new asylum laws and the European migration pact are fully implemented, the Council for the Judiciary has warned.
The warning concerns two laws currently before the Eerste Kamer (Senate). One is the Asylum Emergency Measures Act, which shortens the length of residence permits. The other is the “two-status” law, which separates asylum seekers into B-status for people fleeing war and violence and A-status for those fleeing personal threats.
When former PVV Minister of Asylum and Migration Marjolein Faber introduced the proposals, the Council for the Judiciary already cautioned that the measures would sharply increase the workload of courts. The future coalition of D66, CDA, and VVD has pledged to enforce the laws if the Eerste Kamer approves them.
The Council estimates that about 75 percent of asylum seekers given B-status will challenge their decisions in court because their chances of receiving a residence permit are lower. Of the projected 19,000 additional cases, around 8,500 are expected to result directly from the “two-status” law.
In a document prepared for a parliamentary debate, the Council said the new rules would place heavy pressure on judges and require extra training capacity. This could also delay cases in other areas such as criminal, family, and juvenile law. While the IND believes the reforms will speed up procedures and reduce waiting times, asylum case numbers have already risen from 44,500 in 2023 to 68,900 in 2026, raising concerns about whether the courts can cope.