Danish lawmakers OK seizing valuables from migrants

Minister of Integration from the Liberal Party Inger Stoejberg, right, and Mette Bock attend Parliament, in Copenhagen on Tuesday Jan. 26, 2016. Denmark's Parliament is expected to vote allow police seizing valuables worth more than $1,500 from asylum-seekers to help cover their housing and food costs while their cases were being processed. (Peter Hove Olesen/ POLFOTO via AP)
Minister of Integration from the Liberal Party Inger Stoejberg, right, and Mette Bock attend Parliament, in Copenhagen on Tuesday Jan. 26, 2016. Denmark's Parliament is expected to vote allow police seizing valuables worth more than $1,500 from asylum-seekers to help cover their housing and food costs while their cases were being processed. (Peter Hove Olesen/ POLFOTO via AP)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Danish lawmakers voted Tuesday to let police seize valuables worth more than $1,500 from asylum-seekers to help cover their housing and food costs while their cases were being processed.

After more than three hours of debate, the minority Liberal Party government's bill was adopted in a 81-27 vote, with the support of the opposition Social Democrats and the anti-immigration Danish People's Party — Denmark's two largest parties. One lawmaker abstained and 70 others were absent.

Amendments were made, including raising the value of items the asylum-seekers can keep from 3,000 kroner ($440) to 10,000 kroner ($1,500). That brings it in line with welfare rules for Danes, who must sell assets worth more than 10,000 kroner before they can receive social benefits.

Denmark received about 20,000 asylum-seekers last year while its neighbors Germany got 1.1 million and Sweden 163,000.

See Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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