WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao and other parts of the Dutch Caribbean remain under scrutiny in the latest global human rights report by Amnesty International, which highlights ongoing concerns related to migration policy, detention practices, and legal protections within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
According to the report, one of the most significant developments affecting the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom came from a ruling by the Joint Court of Justice, which serves Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Caribbean Netherlands. In July, the court determined that the automatic detention of migrants solely on the basis of irregular entry is unlawful, marking an important legal precedent for the region.
The ruling directly impacts long-standing practices in Curaçao and neighboring islands, where undocumented migrants—particularly from Venezuela—have often been detained upon arrival. Human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the proportionality and legality of such measures.
Amnesty also points to policy changes introduced in Curaçao in March 2025, aimed at improving conditions for undocumented migrants. These measures allow individuals without legal status to apply for residence permits on humanitarian or economic grounds. However, the report notes that by the end of the year, it remained unclear how effective these policies had been in practice.
Beyond the Caribbean, broader developments within the Kingdom also raise concerns. Proposed legislation in the Netherlands could criminalize undocumented migrants and restrict asylum rights, including limiting family reunification and denying permanent residency after five years.
Amnesty warns that such policies, even if primarily aimed at European Netherlands, can have indirect consequences for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, particularly in shaping migration enforcement practices and legal standards.
The report also raises concerns about discrimination and the use of technology in migration control. A Dutch court ordered a human rights assessment of visa allocation systems after concerns emerged about automated ethnic profiling, highlighting systemic risks that could affect applicants from the Caribbean and Latin America.
The findings underscore that while some legal progress has been made, structural challenges remain. Amnesty concludes that without consistent enforcement and safeguards, vulnerable groups in the Dutch Caribbean may continue to face legal uncertainty and limited protection of their rights.