Dutch Minister Unveils Tough Measures Against Illegal Immigrants

Still riding the wave of anti-immigration sentiment espoused by the murdered populist politician Pim Fortuyn, the Netherlands announced new measures yesterday which will turn it into one of Europe's least welcoming places for those seeking sanctuary.

In a television interview which has alarmed anti-racism groups, Hilbrand Nawijn, the new immigration minister, said that illegal immigrants should be locked up in disused military barracks for two months and have their social security payments cut by 90%.

A former head of the immigration service, and one of the ministers from Fortuyn's movement, Mr Nawijn said one of the first things he wanted to do was to get tough with immigrants, especially those with criminal tendencies.

"I'm thinking about illegal immigrants who cause trouble in the Netherlands," he told the Nova TV programme.

"They come from countries like Turkey, Morocco and North Africa and it is generally the criminal illegal immigrants that cause trouble here. We need to be as tough as possible."

Controversially, he vowed to evict large numbers of illegal immigrants he said were taking social housing meant for others.

"There are lots of illegal immigrants in the larger cities living in housing intended for use by Dutch people or legal foreigners. That must be stopped," he said.

Under Mr Nawijn's plans, which will take effect within six months, asylum seekers will be detained in converted army barracks for up to two months and then expelled from the country immediately if their applications are turned down.

It is a significant departure from the current system, in which asylum seekers live in open accommodation and can travel freely, although they cannot work while their applications are being dealt with: a process which can take years.

Mr Nawijn also indicated that the Netherlands will try to renegotiate EU agreements with countries which refuse to take back nationals who have been denied refuge in the union. Companies will be liable to a fine of £1,350 for every illegal immigrant they hire, he added.

Anti-racism groups said they were deeply concerned by the policy, which includes a plan to penalise newcomers who fail to complete Dutch language and citizenship classes: a key plank in Fortuyn's manifesto.

The terms for bringing in relatives from abroad will be tightened, and carrying identity papers will be mandatory.

"I think it's a sign of the new hardline attitude towards foreigners in general, especially those perceived to be causing problems," said Dick Houtzager, a lawyer at the National Bureau against Racial Discrimination in Rotterdam.

"I'm worried that this signals a total lack of consideration for humanitarian circumstances on the part of the new government. The immigration policy of the last government was already harsh and caused a lot of problems but this is harsher.

"We don't have anything against an open debate on foreigners and criminality but now it seems that all the hidden biases and prejudices are starting to come out in a very unsubtle way, and that's something we deplore."

The solution, he suggested, was to spur integration, not to crack down on immigration.

"If you look back to September 11 we do notice a change in the climate. People are celebrating the end of political correctness and feel as if they can say what they want."

Fortuyn may be dead and buried but it seems his political legacy lives on.

One of the Netherlands' most prominent businessmen said earlier this month that immigrants were responsible for most shoplifting and street robberies and, much to the concern of human rights groups, the government has begun an unprecedented inquiry into the activities of the country's 800,000 Muslims.