New government magazine highlights human side of migration policies and challenges
The first issue of Mens en Migratie sheds light on how Dutch migration agencies are prioritizing empathy in their work, from asylum procedures to tackling nuisance cases. Discover how these changes could impact migrants and communities across the Netherlands.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Magazine Name | Mens en Migratie |
| Issuing Agencies | IND, COA, DTenV |
| Focus of First Issue | Human touch in migration policies, nuisance-causers, EU border systems |
| Special Feature | Red-button procedure for distressing situations |
| New EU System | Entry/Exit System (EES) replacing passport stamps |
| EU Asylum Pact Start Date | June 12, 2026 |
| Target Group for Dublin Shelter | Dublin claimants (asylum seekers) |
| Case Study | Syrian artist Hasan Mouna’s integration journey |
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA), and the Directorate-General for Migration (DTenV) are key government bodies managing migration, asylum, and integration in the Netherlands. Their policies directly influence how migrants navigate legal, social, and humanitarian challenges in the country.
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Read the full translated article below
The first issue of Mens en Migratie is now online
Working in the migration chain is truly people-oriented work, and to emphasize that, the magazine of the IND, COA, and DTenV is now called Mens en Migratie. We are proud to present the first issue!
In the first edition of Mens en Migratie, you can read, among other things, an article about how the IND and DTenV incorporate the ‘human touch’ in their work. You can also learn how a special DTenV team connects with municipalities and police, for example, in cases involving nuisance-causers without lawful residence in the Netherlands. The magazine also features many other interesting pieces.
Where the streets of Damascus come to life
Since Syrian Hasan Mouna has been living in the Netherlands, he has rediscovered something he had long missed: motivation and self-confidence. He continues to pursue drawing, his greatest passion. ‘It’s not just an outlet, but also a way to give meaning to my new life,’ he says.
The red-button procedure: an important lifeline in distressing situations
The so-called red-button procedure has proven to be a valuable route that is widely used. Exceptional and distressing situations that meet the conditions can be prioritized through this procedure.
Discussing the ‘human touch’
The childcare benefits affair, among other things, has shown how important it is to consider the ‘human touch’ in policy and legislation. DTenV and the IND are putting the human touch at the forefront of their services in various ways, for example with the dilemma game. ‘It’s about how we treat each other.’
Approach to nuisance-causers without lawful residence
For two years now, DTenV, in collaboration with the Public Prosecution Service and the police, has been testing the Thematic Team Nuisance-Causing Foreign Nationals. This team focuses on nuisance-causers without lawful residence. The targeted actions at, for example, Utrecht Central Station demonstrate that this collaboration is effective.
Passport stamps disappearing in Europe
‘For the first time, 29 EU member states are recording the location and date of entry and exit, passport data, and biometric data at the borders,’ says Pieter Moret of the Royal Marechaussee (KMar). He is the project leader of the Entry/Exit System (EES), the system that will soon replace passport stamps.
From reception to shelter
On June 12, 2026, the European Asylum and Migration Pact will come into effect, and from that date, COA will provide so-called Dublin claimants with shelter in Dublin shelter locations, which are part of existing reception centers. Policy advisor Olivier Sprée (COA) knows all about this operation: ‘The implementation of the pact is a challenge, but it also offers plenty of opportunities.’
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