THE HAGUE - The Dutch State Secretary of Justice and Security who is also in charge of Asylum policy in the Netherlands Eric van der Burg paid a visit to Curaçao and Aruba in connection with the reception of asylum seekers and other migrants.   

Van Den Burg believes that he should be reserved in his opinion, because he must first ensure that he himself has things in order in the Netherlands. Curaçao and Aruba are having a hard time, is his main conclusion. “If you look at the number of people from Venezuela and you would translate that to the Netherlands; then the Netherlands would have to receive almost 2 million people,” said the State Secretary after his visit to the two islands.   

Aid organizations estimate that there are 15,000 to 20,000 undocumented people in Aruba. They can apply for asylum on entry and are not locked up like in Curaçao. Aruba, however, rejects 98 percent of the applications, while the Netherlands allows 70 percent.  

Curaçao is now building a new immigration detention center with Dutch funds, but with great delay. The construction must be completed in 4 weeks, only then the furnishing will take place.