The Danish government has made last-minute changes to a proposed food voucher scheme to ensure that deported immigrants residing in return centers will not benefit from the program. Employment Minister Kaare Dybvad Bek emphasized to TV 2 that individuals without legal residency should not receive checks from the Danish state, stressing the straightforwardness of this policy. The proposal is being pushed through hastily to allow for payments to be disbursed starting in May, pending a vote in the Folketing (Danish Parliament) on Thursday.

The food voucher initiative is allocated approximately 4.5 billion kroner and is intended to support more than two million Danish citizens, primarily targeting families with children, pensioners, the unemployed, trainees, and students living away from home. This move follows an agreement made last month between the government, the Socialist Party (SF), and the Unity List to assist those particularly affected by rising food prices, ensuring they receive a tax-free food voucher in May and June.

This revision reflects the government's focus on providing aid to its citizens amid rising costs while also demonstrating a strict stance on immigration policies. By restricting access to these benefits for deported individuals, the government aims to unify its domestic welfare policies with its immigration stance, highlighting a broader commitment to prioritizing support for lawful residents over those facing deportation.