In that flat little land that many consider to be wacky and far too tolerant of everything, illegal immigration and related issues are being handled far better than in the USA.

Like all Western European countries, the Netherlands has been swamped with illegals from underdeveloped countries and faces similar problems to the USA (assimilation; welfare abuse; loss of jobs and loss of tax revenue to cheap, under-the-table labor; importing (nearly) extinct diseases such as TB; etc.)

Here are some of the current laws and policies. And, unlike the USA, the Dutch laws are being enforced on a large scale.

1. Employers are fined 8,000 euros (approx $10, 815) for each illegal they employ. This has discouraged a lot of companies from hiring illegals. The Dutch government expects to earn €24,000,000 (approx $32,500,000) from these fines in 2007.
(What a brilliant way for the government to make money, instead of raising taxes and forcing taxpayers to subsidize illegals.)

2. Farmers who are caught hiring illegals have to pay the fine, are not allowed to receive farm subsidies, and must pay back any subsidy monies they received in the year they were caught hiring illegals.

3. Construction companies caught hiring illegals have to pay the fine and cannot bid on government projects.

4. Raids carried out by the Arbeidsinspectie (work inspectors) purposefully target the most likely employers of illegals.
In addition to controlling illegal employment, they also regulate work conditions. If an illegal is underpaid by his employer and reports this abuse, the illegal will receive a temporary residency permit. The employer can then be fined. The illegal’s temporary residency permit expires within a few days–as soon as he is paid all his (back) wages, then he must leave the country.

5. No free medical care for special groups of people like we have in the USA. Everyone must be insured or pay for medical treatment, medications, etc.

6. No special bilingual classes for foreigners like we have in Spanish in the USA. Everyone must learn Dutch–for newcomers, this is mainly done by immersion. Some private international schools offer courses in other (mainly European) languages, but even there the Dutch language is part of the curriculum.
Most children can pick up the basics of a foreign language fairly quickly (in a matter of weeks) via immersion in a foreign land if their parents support this learning.

7. Everyone over 14 must carry a legitimate ID at all times.

There are some good policies for legal immigration too. For example, at their own expense, foreigners applying to immigrate from certain countries must complete a 3-part integration course (inburgeringscursus) and pass a test in their homeland before moving to Holland. Others have to take the course upon arrival and/or before they can be issued a residency permit. The three parts are:
a) Language (must speak Dutch)
b) Social orientation (must learn Dutch customs)
c) Work orientation (must be familiar with the Dutch employment system).
Many foreigners who already have residency permits are also required to take the course and pass the exam. I’ve taken the exam . . . it is NOT easy.

I'm not saying everything is perfect in Holland with respect to illegals, but at least they have some effective laws and policies that are being enforced.

I wonder if any American politicians would have the guts to propose legislation for some of the above.

Duh