Denmark Parliament expected to allow seizing valuables

But Marcus Knuth, immigration spokesman for the right-wing Venstre party said, ‘Denmark continues to be one of the most welcoming and caring places that you can seek asylum in.

In another relevant development on Tuesday, the Czech prime minister said he has invited leaders of Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to a special summit on the refugee crisis next month.

Despite widespread condemnation, Denmark’s parliament is expected to vote Tuesday in favour of drastic reforms curbing asylum seekers’ rights, including delaying family reunifications and confiscating migrants’ valuables. In an 18-page document drafted by the UNHCR in response, the refugee agency called it “a deeply concerning response to humanitarian needs” and expressed concern that it could trigger xenophobia, fear, and similar restrictions in other European countries.

After debating for more than three hours, the bill was adopted in a 81-27 vote with support from the Social Democrats, a left-leaning opposition party, and the anti-immigrant Danish People’s Party.

Asylum-seekers will now have to hand over cash exceeding 10,000 kroner (US$1,450) and any individual items valued at more than that amount, up from the initial 3,000 kroner proposed.

Such second-guessing is exactly what the center-right government in Copenhagen is looking for, especially by refugees who are thinking about coming to Denmark.

The authorities say the legislation will put asylum seekers on a level footing with unemployed Danes.

The new asset-seizure law also delays the family reunification process for refugees in Denmark, and refugees now have to wait three years to apply for their families to join them.

Migrants allowed to bring 10,000 Danish crowns (1,340 euros) into the country.

Passage of the new legislation comes less than one week after Danish lawmakers passed a resolution urging the government to look into the consequences of building temporary housing complexes for refugees outside of Danish cities. However, possessions of personal value such as engagement rings are exempt from being confiscated, the Danish ministers said.

Social Democrat Dan Jorgensen addressed opponents of the bill, demanding: “To those saying what we are doing is wrong, my question is: What is your alternative?”

The post Denmark approves plan to seize valuables from refugees appeared first on PBS NewsHour. However, Danes are not subject to the kinds of searches proposed in the new refugee law.

Denmark registered more than 20,000 asylum applications a year ago, making the country of 5.5 million, one of the top European Union destinations for migrants, along with Germany and Sweden.

Denmark will probably tighten its asylum policies further, the country’s influential anti-immigration party said Wednesday, a day after lawmakers passed a controversial bill allowing authorities to seize valuables from refugees.