STRASBOURG - Curacao cannot (for the time being) return a group of 32 Venezuelan refugees.

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has banned eviction, a spokesperson has confirmed to the Dutch news site Koninkrijksrelatie.nu. The 32 Venezuelans, after they had reached Curacao in a boat, were locked up in the foreigners’ barracks at the SDKK prison awaiting deportation.

To prevent this, they have filed a notice of objection with the European Court of Human Rights. Due to its urgent nature, this immediately imposed a provisional measure whereby the Venezuelans may not be removed until after the handling of their objection.

The parties have the opportunity to provide information until 23 May, after which the Court will examine the substance of the case. Remarkably, the Court's decision is addressed to "the Government of the Netherlands."