Migration and Foreign Affairs Minister David van Weel told the Financial Times that a “transit center” in Uganda to which people will be deported could become operational as early as next year, but the government expects legal challenges.
Van Weel assured that the agreement is “in line with international, European and national law… – But of course it will be challenged at the beginning and then we will see whether it will stand,” he added.
— We do not shirk our responsibility to respect human rights of the people we send there. That's clear, he stressed, noting that UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) had been asked to manage the centers on the ground.
LGBT+ people will not be sent to Uganda
The agreement is similar to President Trump's deal with Uganda in August to accept rejected asylum applications from the US. However, Washington is not cooperating with any UN agencies on its deportation plans.
Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said at the time that it preferred accepting people from African countries and would not accept people with criminal convictions or unaccompanied minors.
Van Weel said the pilot project would mainly focus on people from the region, including “many of Uganda's neighboring countries.”
“We currently have a clear system for applying for asylum, but too many people stay here even though they should come back,” van Weel said. “We need to ensure that people who have no right to stay in Europe… actually leave,” he added.
The agreement with Uganda, which is still to be finalized, assumes the admission of people whom the Netherlands has not been able to return to their countries of origin.
Van Weel noted that LGBT+ people would not be sent to Uganda due to its discriminatory laws, which provide for life imprisonment or even death for homosexuality. “I believe we have a responsibility to the people we send there,” he said.
