Cabinet faces criticism from all sides at asylum debate

Proposed plans by junior justice minister Eric van der Burg to limit family reunification to reduce asylum seeker numbers came under attack from all sides during a parliamentary debate on Thursday. Currently, relatives of asylum seekers are allowed to enter the Netherlands if the asylum seeker has been granted residence status, which could take longer than a year. But under the new proposals, asylum seekers – even those with a residence permit – must have a home first. If a...