The Dutch government has introduced stricter criteria for family reunification to prevent fraud and abuse by Somali asylum seekers. Somalis who had been granted asylum requested reunification with family members, children and foster children who, in fact, were not family members. In some cases, fingertip mutilation – in particular among Somali asylum seekers – prevented the authorities from establishing someone’s identity. (Source: letter to the Dutch Lower House from the Ministry for Immigration and Asylum Policy, 6 July 2011)
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