Large Majority of Danes Would Rather Deport Migrants with Temporary Residence Than Integrate Them

A new poll conducted by Voxmeter for Ritzau shows that there is broad support for change in the refugee policy as proposed by the Danish People’s Party, Jyllandsposten reports. 

With 54 per cent of respondents agreeing that refugees should be temporarily assisted in Denmark for repatriation rather than being integrated for permanent residence. Only 24 percent disagree.

During last year’s fiscal negotiations, the party was pushing to implement that the focus should be on repatriating refugees on a temporary basis rather than integrating them.

The proposal will be resubmitted when the government convenes negotiations for next year’s Finance Act and this time, the Danish People’s Party has apparent support from the population.

Martin Henriksen, foreign spokesperson for the Danish People’s Party, says he is pleased and takes credit on behalf of his party for the outcome of the measurement: “In all modesty, we have put this theme on the political agenda.

“It has also forced the other parties to take a position, and I think I have moved some positions,”

Both some in the Left and Social Democracy support the proposal, though the two parties do not think that a major repatriation effort needs to block integration opportunities such as language teaching and job offerings.

“The idea is that they need protection here while they are being upgraded.

“And then they will return home and help with the rebuilding of their country when again, for sure,” said Left spokesperson, Marcus Knuth.

Only 10 per cent of the 100,000 asylum seekers coming to Denmark in the past ten years have returned home afterwards.

In August Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (V) stated that he would negotiate a new immigration policy with the Danish People’s Party this fall.