Attachments
Key Figures
- 23,000 Venezuelan refugees and migrants live in Aruba and Curacao.
- 1,028 Individuals assisted with primary health care consultations in Curacao.
- 155 People assisted with counselling and legal assistance in Aruba and Curaçao.
Context
Aruba and Curacao, two self-governing constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, are autonomous but not part of the European Union. Neither Dutch asylum law nor European law and directives apply to these countries. The 1967 Protocol and the 1951 Refugee Convention do apply to Aruba. Curaçao does not consider itself bound by these instruments.
The air border between Venezuela and Aruba remains closed. The Prime Minister cited Venezuela's ongoing instability, worsened by recent elections and broken diplomatic ties, as reasons. She stressed that reopening the border is a complex and sensitive issue.
Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba have established a regional cooperation platform for migration authorities following discussions at the Four-Country Judicial Consultation in the Netherlands. The initiative aims to enhance collaboration against migration-related crime through information and intelligence sharing.
On 1 August, Aruba's Department of Integration, Management, and Admission of Foreign Nationals (DIMAS) introduced changes to provide more flexibility in issuing work permits. The Minister of Labour, Energy, and Integration said these adjustments meet labor market demands while ensuring priority is given to local workers.