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Netherlands: Deportation campaign rethink

01 July 1997

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An attempt by the Immigratie en Naturalisatie Dienst (Immigration and Naturalisation Service, IND) to deport a Turkish family has led to discussions at cabinet level. The plans to deport the Gümüs Family led to an active campaign on their behalf, organised by staff at the school where the Gümüs children were being taught which involved, among others, the mayor of Amsterdam.

The Gümüs family applied for residency two years ago. The IND rejected their application because they had originally entered the country illegally and had only worked legally for five of the six mandatory years before they applied for permanent residency. A representative of Amsterdam council described the original decision as "very sad, because the Gümüs family are completely integrated within the community". The IND commented: "this family does not meet the criteria, therefore they must leave the country. We make no exceptions."

The campaign has now apparently forced politicians to change their minds. Junior minister Schmitz of the Ministry of Justice has stated that as a result of the pressure she is prepared to reconsider the position, "if parliament wants to do things differently, we will have to change our policy."

NRC Weekblad, 26.8.97.

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