Violent foreigner must still be admitted to the Veldzicht clinic

An undocumented violent man who was not given a place in the Veldzicht clinic in Balkbrug must still be admitted there. The judge decided this in summary proceedings. The judge’s ruling will be followed, the cabinet says.

The man is a failed asylum seeker of Armenian-Syrian descent who came to the Netherlands twenty years ago. He has since stabbed several people and set himself on fire. Two weeks ago he came to the shelter in Amsterdam with a bag full of explosives.

The man lives on the street because he is too dangerous to sleep in a shelter. He’s still causing a nuisance. For example, two weeks ago he smashed the windows of a family.

Municipalities and the ministry have agreed that far-reaching cases, such as this man, will be cared for in Veldzicht. This clinic specializes in serious psychiatric problems in people with a migration background.

Two weeks ago it became clear that there should be more places in the clinic for Dutch TBS patients, according to a letter from the cabinet. The reason is the major shortage of TBS places. Places for undocumented aliens with serious psychiatric complaints must remain.

Yet social workers and the municipality of Amsterdam were unable to arrange a place for this undocumented man. There were said to have been emergency consultations with ministries several times, but this did not lead to a recording.

Until today. The judge ruled that the man should indeed be cared for in a secure environment. The Ministry of Justice and Security says it will comply with the ruling.

The municipality of Amsterdam says it is relieved. However, Amsterdam, together with Utrecht, Eindhoven and Groningen, raised concerns in a letter to MPs.

The agreements made have not been fulfilled for some time, the letter states. For example, there are fewer available places for undocumented migrants than agreed. The councilors also see more frequent rejections of patients that conflict with the agreements made.

The councilors hope that the judge’s ruling on this case sets the tone, so that a new lawsuit does not have to be filed for every patient.

The Ministry of Justice and Security says it does not recognize the systematic rejection of undocumented migrants. For the time being, the target group will simply be admitted and treated in the clinic, according to a response.

The Amsterdam undocumented man was also discussed in the House of Representatives today. “This man is a great danger to the environment,” says SP MP Van Nispen.

“The minister is simply not protecting society at the moment,” the MP continues about the choices surrounding the Veldzicht clinic. “She has been warned. If there are casualties, it is the minister’s responsibility.”

Next week there will be further debate in the House of Representatives about the Veldzicht clinic.