The Norwegian government has determined that Somalia is now safe and instructed immigration officials to deport Somalian refugees who no longer need protection. That’s set off a wave of criticism and complaints from refugee advocates who strongly disagree.
Around 1,600 Somalian refugees who lack permanent residence status are the most vulnerable to deportation, and have been facing uncertain futures since the instructions were issued two years ago. The Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers (NOAS) and other groups claim the government is violating their human rights.
They also accuse the government, and the Progress Party, of engaging in “symbolic politics” and have called for the government to withdraw its instructions to the immigration service UDI (Utlendingsdirektoratet).
There’s been a sharp decline in the numbers of asylum seekers arriving in Norway, meanwhile, and a corresponding decline in the numbers needing to be resettled in Norwegian communities. State officials reported that around 5,350 refugees needed a place to live at the end of the summer, compared to 12,500 at the same time last year and 18,500 in 2016.
newsinenglish.no staff
