487 people in Denmark have been told they can expect to become Danish citizens in October, but they won't get citizenship because their cases are paused until a new law expected next year screens applicants for anti-democratic attitudes. The Ministry of Immigration and Integration wrote in a letter in their e-Boks that it expected the persons to be on a bill making them Danish citizens in October.
Alternativet and Enhedslisten are pressing for the 487 to receive Danish passports even before the new law is in place. "It is completely unreasonable that 487 people in Denmark have been told by the authorities that they meet all requirements," said Elise Sydendal, citizenship spokesperson for Alternativet. "They have waited for years and done everything we asked. Now they stand hat in hand and don't know what their future is."
Enhedslisten noted that applicants have paid over 6,000 kroner in fees. "It is a completely untenable situation," said Peder Hvelplund, Enhedslisten's citizenship spokesperson. He said it contradicts rule-of-law principles for the state to say conditions were met and then not grant citizenship.
In early October the government proposed that 2,055 people become citizens in January could be approved anyway. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said there was a "reasonableness" consideration because they had "played by the rules that apply. That opening does not cover the October group. Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bødskov (S) is called to a consultation today about what happens to them. He declined an interview with DR beforehand.
Eva Ersbøll, senior researcher at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, told DR in early October that Denmark does not in practice fulfill the requirement to have usable legislation. "Two or three years ago people applied for citizenship in confidence in the applicable rules," she said. "Now they are suddenly told that cases are put on hold until new rules come. It is concerning."