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1st LD: Danish parliament adopts controversial bill on asylum seekers

Xinhua, January 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Danish Parliament on Tuesday passed a controversial bill that empowers the authorities to confiscate valuables of asylum seekers to finance their stay in the country and tightens rules on asylum.

Lawmakers in Copenhagen voted 81-27 in favor of the new austerity measures aiming to make the country less attractive for refugees and migrants.

Under the law, Danish police will now be able to search luggage of asylum seekers and seize cash and any individual items worth over 10,000 Danish kroner, or about 1,452 U.S. dollars. Wedding rings and any other items of sentimental value are exempted.

It also favors delaying family reunifications for some refugees by up to three years instead of one year, and making it harder for refugees to obtain permanent residency and to shorten temporary resident permits. Endit