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Saturday, February 14, 2004
The Dutch immigration pendulum has begun to swing in the other direction after decades of liberal allowances of migration into their country. Now, after a nationalist backlash against such practices, it seems the Hollanders have decided to deport 26,000 people. Apparently, many Dutch are fed up with migrants.
Mr Van Bekkam, like many middle-class Dutch people, thinks that the government's decision - which applies to almost all asylum seekers who arrived before new laws introduced in 2001 - is correct and courageous. "It is brave for the government to recognise that it can't neglect its duty any more," he said.
His wife held her husband's hand and vented the frustration of many native-born Dutch who feel that a large influx of immigrants has eroded the values they hold dear and made Holland a more dangerous place. "I was born here," she said. "I have a right to feel safe, but a lot of people don't feel safe any more."
Other shoppers shared the Van Bekkams' anger at the way their culture had been "damaged", but many declined to put their names to deeply-felt grievances. "Society is always changing, but it has not been changing for the better," said one customer. "It's much less safe now because the norms that we valued are disappearing. We respect the law but those who come from elsewhere have to learn to do that too."
The last sentence is right on the money for me. Americans, and legal immigrants, who follow procedures, adhere to laws, and do the right thing should be rewarded as such. Those who skirt the system should not. This is not an endorsement of any policy that deports thousands of people arbitrarily, nor is this a tacit accusation that the Dutch are doing so. However, it should be a consideration in a society of laws that citizens, and prospective citizens, follow those laws. Given that idea, I can understand Mr. Van Bekkam's ire.
Ironically, the free migration policy espoused by the EU will serve only to foment such anti-immigrant sentiment. Workers who live in EU states are allowed to work in any other EU state, or so the idea goes.
Germany and Austria - whose politicians fear an influx of immigrants prepared to work for low wages from Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary - will retain immigration controls, probably for the maximum seven years after "enlargement". Germany is sending out 7,000 inspectors to catch the thousands of eastern Europeans already working illegally in German cities - including Berlin, where an estimated 30,000 Poles are working as cleaners and building workers alone.
France and Italy also plan to keep the restrictions on immigrant workers for the maximum period. Denmark, Holland, Greece and Sweden initially took a more liberal line, but all have now performed sharp U-turns.
Again, I concur with the notion that illegal immigrants should be handled accordingly. I hope those in power in the States begin to embrace a similar policy towards immigrants. The Statue of Liberty welcomes all to the U.S. It is a beacon of hope worldwide, for a better life. I think nothing should change that ideal. But I also think it's high time that we started enforcing the laws on immigration that we already have.Labels: Archives_2004
.: posted by
Dave
10:39 PM
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