US embassy cable - 05THEHAGUE2898

UNCLAS THE HAGUE 002898 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, PRM AND CA 
DHS FOR OIA - CARCOS AND DSEQUEIRA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, CASC, CVIS, PTER, PGOV, NL 
SUBJECT:  DUTCH IMMIGRATION AND INTEGRATION MINISTER 
PROPOSES A VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
1. (SBU) Summary.  Dutch Minister for Immigration and 
Integration Rita Verdonk reiterated to Charge her strong 
interest in visiting the U.S.  Verdonk said she was 
interested in a program that covered both the immigration 
and integration sides of her portfolio.  She suggested a 
January 2006 timeframe.  End Summary. 
 
2. (SBU) During Charge's October 25 courtesy call, Minister 
Verdonk stressed her strong interest in making a three-four 
day visit to the United States, including Washington, New 
York and possibly another city with a large immigrant 
population.  She expressed interest in meetings at the 
Departments of Homeland Security and State and in attending 
public events related to U.S. immigration and naturalization 
policy and the integration of refugees and immigrants. In 
particular, she noted her strong interest in visiting the 
CBP National Targeting Center in conjunction with 
discussions on risk profiles for immigrants, and observing a 
naturalization ceremony. 
 
3. (SBU) Charge noted that DHS had advised that it was still 
working to resolve several technical issues related to 
implementation of the International Expedited Traveller 
pilot program between Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport and New 
York's JFK.  DHS would prefer to hold off signing the MOU 
establishing the program until a firm date for launching the 
program could be determined.  Gert Versluis, Deputy Director 
for Immigration and Naturalization (IND), who sat in on the 
meeting, noted IND was keen to launch the IET program by 
April.  He understood the U.S. side expected to be ready to 
begin the program by then. 
 
4. (SBU) Charge also raised the Embassy's efforts to reach 
out to the Muslim population in the Netherlands. He 
explained that the Embassy launched this effort in part in 
response to polls that indicated that Dutch Muslims have a 
more negative impression of the United States than do 
Muslims in other European countries.  He said the outreach 
program was as an attempt to better understand the concerns 
of the Muslim population and to better explain the United 
States.  We were discussing with several businesses the 
possibility of launching a program to offer internships to 
Muslim students, as an example. 
 
5. (SBU) Verdonk noted that her ministry had also launched 
diversity programs to encourage businesses to provide 
internships and other employment opportunities to 
minorities.  Her policy advisor on integration and religious 
matters noted that they were looking at ways in which the 
ministry could cooperate with the Mission on outreach. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
6. (SBU) We strongly encourage DHS and Department to respond 
favorably to Minister Verdonk's proposal to visit the United 
States.  She is at the center of the whole Muslim 
integration question in the Netherlands and carries 
considerable weight.  Her tough polices have helped make 
Verdonk the most popular member of the Dutch cabinet, though 
many Muslims view her with distrust.  The Dutch government, 
including Verdonk, has been a strong partner in our counter- 
terrorism and homeland security efforts.  Her visiting the 
States would further strengthen that relationship. 
 
Blakeman