DUTCH TOWN PLEDGES TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING ARMENIAN FAMILY THREATENED WITH DEPORTATION
Dutch News, The Netherlands
Dec 5 2014
December 5, 2014
The town of Boxmeer will continue to support an Armenian family
financially after the father's refugee status was withdrawn because
he lied about his identity 15 years ago, mayor Karel van Soest said
on Friday.
The fact the man has a conviction for attacking a police officer
several years ago will not have an impact on that decision, the
Volkskrant quotes the mayor as saying.
The family, which has two young children, was told to leave after
Armenian national Hovsep Khachatryan admitted lying about who he was
when he came here as a 16-year-old in 1999.
But locals have been campaigning against the deportation order,
saying it is wrong to throw out a well-integrated family with two
young children.
Because Khachahtryan is now an illegal immigrant, he has lost his job.
Boxmeer council decided to go against government policy and support
the family with EURO 1,250 a month.
His conviction for assaulting a police officer emerged during an
appeal hearing against the deportation. Khachahtryan admits being
drunk and hitting an officer after an exchange of words. He was given
community service for the offence.
According to the Volkskrant, junior justice minister Fred Teeven took
the conviction into account when assessing the deportation order. 'The
case is unique and it was not an easy decision but the answer remains
no,' the paper quotes the immigration service as saying.
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2014/12/dutch-town-pledges-to-continue-supporting-armenian-family-threatened-with-deportation.php/
Dutch News, The Netherlands
Dec 5 2014
December 5, 2014
The town of Boxmeer will continue to support an Armenian family
financially after the father's refugee status was withdrawn because
he lied about his identity 15 years ago, mayor Karel van Soest said
on Friday.
The fact the man has a conviction for attacking a police officer
several years ago will not have an impact on that decision, the
Volkskrant quotes the mayor as saying.
The family, which has two young children, was told to leave after
Armenian national Hovsep Khachatryan admitted lying about who he was
when he came here as a 16-year-old in 1999.
But locals have been campaigning against the deportation order,
saying it is wrong to throw out a well-integrated family with two
young children.
Because Khachahtryan is now an illegal immigrant, he has lost his job.
Boxmeer council decided to go against government policy and support
the family with EURO 1,250 a month.
His conviction for assaulting a police officer emerged during an
appeal hearing against the deportation. Khachahtryan admits being
drunk and hitting an officer after an exchange of words. He was given
community service for the offence.
According to the Volkskrant, junior justice minister Fred Teeven took
the conviction into account when assessing the deportation order. 'The
case is unique and it was not an easy decision but the answer remains
no,' the paper quotes the immigration service as saying.
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2014/12/dutch-town-pledges-to-continue-supporting-armenian-family-threatened-with-deportation.php/