Asylum and Immigration Minister Gerd Leers has ruled that 18-year-old Angolan Mauro Manuel will be sent back to his country of origin. The minister announced his decision in parliament on Wednesday.

The Christian Democrat minister had previously ordered Mauro to go back to Angola, but under pressure from MPs in the backbenches, he promised to review the case and see if there was another option.

Mauro Manuel came by himself to the Netherlands eight years ago at the age of 10 to request asylum. Unaccompanied underage asylum seekers (AMAs) are allowed to remain in the Netherlands until they reach the age of 18.

According to the Interior Ministry website, not all so-called AMAs are sent back when they reach 18. If they have been in the country for three years and have no one to take them in in their own country, they are allowed to remain in the Netherlands.

Behind the scenes, MPs are trying to revert the decision. Christian Democrats and Green Left representatives have confirmed they are in talks to garner support for a review. Ombudsman Marc Dullaert told public broadcaster NOS that extraditing Mauro would contravene the UN charter on children's rights.

(jn/imm)

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