The Dutch government wants to return more asylum seekers to the European countries where they first applied for protection.
The Ministry of Asylum and Migration plans to test the use of immigration detention to increase the chances of completing these transfers.
Dutch newspaper NRC reported the plan after speaking to unnamed sources.
The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, known as COA, confirmed that the pilot programme will take place.
The Ministry of Asylum and Migration did not respond to NRC’s request for comment.
The measure will mainly target people who have little chance of receiving a Dutch residence permit.
Officials hope the plan will reduce new arrivals and ease pressure on asylum shelters.
COA’s reception centres currently hold more people than their official capacity allows.
Under the Dublin Regulation, the European country where a person first applies for asylum usually handles the application.
For example, if someone first applies in Italy before travelling to the Netherlands, Dutch officials may seek to return the person to Italy.
The government believes detention could prevent some asylum seekers from disappearing before their transfer takes place.
New European Union rules will give countries up to three years to complete Dublin transfers.
Officials believe this longer period could make detention more likely to result in an actual transfer.
NRC described the pilot as the current Cabinet’s first major asylum measure aimed at people unlikely to receive permission to stay.
