Refugee Foundation Challenges Cuts to Legal Aid

The Refugee Foundation has filed a lawsuit against Asylum Minister Faber’s decision to significantly reduce legal aid for asylum seekers. The foundation’s budget has been cut, requiring an immediate reduction in services.

The budget for the legal protection program, which assists asylum seekers with their applications, has been reduced from 34 million to 13 million euros. Frank Candel, the chairman of the Refugee Foundation, criticized this as “poor governance,” suggesting it is unreasonable to end a 35-year subsidy relationship abruptly.

Minister Faber has not yet responded to Candel’s remarks. Since 2010, the foundation has fulfilled a European mandate to independently assist asylum seekers in their procedures.

Concerns are growing that the system will “further stall” due to these cuts, potentially leading to unprepared applicants facing wrongful rejections and additional burdens on the judiciary. The Refugee Foundation anticipates the legal proceedings will occur within two weeks.

In November, the Dutch House of Representatives debated Faber’s budget cuts, with many members opposing them due to increasing waitlists. The ministry projects that the number of people waiting will rise from 69,000 currently to 130,000 in five years.

Source: NOS

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