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| Denmark approves controversial migrant assets bill | Denmark approves controversial migrant assets bill |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Danish parliament has backed a controversial proposal to confiscate asylum seekers' valuables to pay for their upkeep. | The Danish parliament has backed a controversial proposal to confiscate asylum seekers' valuables to pay for their upkeep. |
| Denmark says the policy brings migrants in line with jobless Danes, who must sell assets above a certain level to claim benefits. | Denmark says the policy brings migrants in line with jobless Danes, who must sell assets above a certain level to claim benefits. |
| MPs also approved plans to delay family reunions for asylum seekers. | |
| The bill was expected to go through even though it had been criticised by human rights groups. | |
| Under the new law, refugees entering the country will only be allowed to keep possessions up to a value of about 10,000 kroner (1,340 euros; £1,000) - a figure raised from 3,000 kroner following objections. | Under the new law, refugees entering the country will only be allowed to keep possessions up to a value of about 10,000 kroner (1,340 euros; £1,000) - a figure raised from 3,000 kroner following objections. |
| Items of sentimental value, such as wedding rings, will be exempt. | Items of sentimental value, such as wedding rings, will be exempt. |
| Danish critics have likened the move to the confiscation of valuables from Jews during World War Two. | |
| Why are countries seizing refugees' valuables? | |
| Migrants feel chill of tighter borders | Migrants feel chill of tighter borders |
| Europe's migrant crisis | Europe's migrant crisis |
| The new law also means the period migrants will have to wait before applying for relatives to join them will be extended from one year to three - a move aimed at discouraging new arrivals. | |
| Temporary residence permits will be shortened and the conditions for obtaining a permanent permit will be restricted. | Temporary residence permits will be shortened and the conditions for obtaining a permanent permit will be restricted. |
| Denmark expects to receive around 20,000 asylum seekers in 2016, compared with 15,000 last year, the integration ministry told BBC News. | |
| MPs approved the measures by 81 votes to 27 following a lengthy, and at times angry, debate. One MP abstained and 70 others were absent. The centre-left opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Danish People's Party both voted in favour. | |
| Martin Henriksen, immigration spokesman for the Danish People's Party, described the numbers of migrants entering Europe as an "exodus". | |
| "More needs to be done. We need more border controls, we need tighter immigration rules," he said. | |
| But Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, of the opposition left Red-Green Alliance that opposed the bill, said it was "a symbolic move to scare people away". | |
| Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen of the centre-right Venstre party had previously shrugged off criticism of the proposals calling them "the most misunderstood bill in Denmark's history". | |
| The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the European Commission had criticised the proposals. | |
| Speaking before the vote, UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards told reporters in Geneva the measures would cause hardship and harm. | Speaking before the vote, UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards told reporters in Geneva the measures would cause hardship and harm. |
| "The decision to give Danish police the authority to search and confiscate valuables from asylum seekers sends damaging messages in our view," he said. | "The decision to give Danish police the authority to search and confiscate valuables from asylum seekers sends damaging messages in our view," he said. |
| "It runs the risk of fuelling sentiments of fear and discrimination rather than promoting solidarity with people in need of protection." | "It runs the risk of fuelling sentiments of fear and discrimination rather than promoting solidarity with people in need of protection." |
| Denmark is not the first European country to demand the assets of asylum seekers. | |
| Earlier this month, Switzerland was criticised by a refugee group for seizing assets from some 100 people in 2015. Under Swiss rules, asylum seekers have to hand over assets above $1,000 (£700; €900). | |
| Where Europe is failing on migrants | Where Europe is failing on migrants |