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Two women walk on the square of the ASC in Weert and talk to each other.

Source: Goedele Mommens / VluchtelingenWerk Nederland

News

Yemenis leave the Netherlands even though they are entitled to a fair asylum procedure

Published at: 13/12/2024, 00:00

More and more people from Yemen are leaving the Netherlands because they think their asylum application has no chance here. They also think they have fewer rights than before. That is not quite right. If you come from Yemen, you are still entitled to a fair asylum procedure and legal support.

Yemenis fear they are no longer entitled to asylum

Over the past 3 months, the Helpdesk of

VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN)

has received reports that Yemenis are leaving the Netherlands for an unknown destination. According to the Helpdesk, at least 80 people are involved, but it is likely that many more Yemenis have.

According to leaders of Yemeni groups in the Netherlands, 200 people have already left the Netherlands. This is according to an inquiry by RefugeeHelp via social media. The reasons for leaving are:

Yemenis fear that they will not be granted an asylum permit in the Netherlands and that it will take a long time for the
Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND)
to make a decision.
They say they feel that asylum applications from Yemenis are judged more strictly than those of people from other countries.

Yemen asylum policy changed, but Netherlands does not consider Yemen safe

It is not true that you no longer have a chance for asylum if you come from Yemen. The Dutch government still believes that people from Yemen may be at risk because of the war. But since March 2024, the IND no longer automatically approves asylum applications from people from Yemen.

Asylum applications from people from Yemen are now treated the same as those from other countries. If you can show why you are in danger in Yemen, you can still get a residence permit. For example, if you are in danger:

Because of the work you do.
Because you belong to a religious minority.
Because of your political activism.
Because other personal circumstances can make you a quicker victim of war violence.

Many rejections of Yemeni asylum claims prove unjustified after lawyer's help

Although people from Yemen think they have almost no chance of asylum in the Netherlands, this is not true. The number of asylum applications from Yemenis that are approved does decrease each month. Figures from Eurostat show that in July, August and September, only 20 out of 85 Yemenis were granted asylum.

Still, this does not mean that, as a Yemeni, you no longer have any chance of asylum at all.

Data from VWN's Helpdesk shows that many rejected asylum applications are unjustified. These rejections of Yemenis are often successfully challenged by lawyers. Many courts disagree with the IND's decision and believe the case should be reviewed. As a result, many Yemenis can still receive a residence permit on appeal. VWN therefore stresses the importance of seeking legal support and advice, especially if your asylum application is rejected the 1st time.