A court in the Netherlands has ruled that the country’s authorities must allow family members of refugees to enter the country under international family reunification law.
In this regard, the court, based in The Hague, has indicated that the interest of the families must be valued above the interest of the state, as confirmed Thursday.
This ruling is the fourth court decision that contravenes the current policy of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, whereby family members of refugees who have a legal residence status can only receive a visa in the country 15 months later or if they can prove that they have secured a domicile.
Several refugees had successfully filed lawsuits against the measure, and judges have ruled that Rutte’s policy — which he cited a shortage of housing for refugees as a reason for pushing it through — violates national law and international conventions.
The government had sought an injunction against these rulings, asking that they be suspended until the administrative court’s final decision in the litigation, expected in January. But the court denied the request.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
