Denmark's parliament approved a controversial bill on Tuesday that allows police to confiscate valuables from refugees who are seeking asylum in the Scandinavian country.

The bill states that any items worth more than 10,000 kroner ($1,500) can be seized by police to help offset government aid the refugees would require while their asylum cases are being processed. It mirrors one targeting Danish citizens on welfare who must sell assets worth more than 10,000 kroner before they can receive benefits.

Family reunification for those who enter the country will also be delayed under the new law, requiring that asylees — refugees who have officially applied for asylum — must wait three years before they can bring family members to join them.

See also: Germany is now confiscating valuables from refugees entering the country

The new law was designed as a deterrent for the tens of thousands of refugees who are making the perilous journey to Europe each week. Denmark received around 20,000 asylum-seekers in 2015. For a country of just 5.6 million people, it was one of the highest rates per capita in the EU.

Refugee woman and a child, wrapped in thermal blankets, walk in freezing weather towards the border with Serbia from the transit center for refugees near northern Macedonian village of Tabanovce on their journey toward Western Europe Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016. Image: Boris Grdanoski/Associated Press

It was written by the minority Liberal Party, and adopted in an 81-27 vote after more than three hours of debate.

Denmark's integration minister Inger Stoejberg previously defended the proposal and said the valuables would help to pay for the lodging, language classes, health care and job training courses of those who hoping to begin a new life in the country.

Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen, left, and Danish Minister for Immigration Inger Stojberg attend a meeting of the Civil Liberties Committee at the European Parliament in Brussels on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Image: Virginia Mayo/Associated Press

At the time, and in the face of global outrage at the proposition — which some said reminded them of the German concentration camps of WWII — Stoejberg said that wedding rings, watches or items "with a sentimental value," would not be taken.

Human rights organizations were equally horrified at the passage of the law. Amnesty International's European branch called the vote "mean-spirited" and tweeted that it was a "sad day for Denmark."

Mean-spirited vote a sad day for #Denmark. EU states must respect refugees humanity & dignity #refugeeswelcome https://t.co/99TI7CJGj0 — Amnesty EU (@AmnestyEU) January 26, 2016

I honestly just can't wrap my mind around #Denmark's law allowing seizure of refugees' valuables. "Hi, you survived war, now pay for it." — Rawya Rageh (@RawyaRageh) January 26, 2016

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general, criticized Denmark, saying people who make the effort to reach Europe "should be treated with compassion and respect" and with full rights as refugees.

"This is a symbolic move to scare people away" from seeking asylum in Denmark, said Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen of the opposition left Red-Green Alliance that opposed the law. Her party colleague Henning Hyllested called the law "sickly nationalism."

Germany has also begun a similar practice of seizing valuables from those crossing the border.

According to a report from The Local, authorities in Germany's southern Bavaria state taking belonging, as well as in the neighboring state of Baden-Württemberg. Police began confiscating cash and valuables above €350 ($378) in exchange for state aid last week.

Local leaders defended the move, saying it corresponded with similar programs that have been in place in Switzerland for decades, and equated it to the need-based unemployment benefit that German citizens receive.

"Cash holdings and valuables can be secured if they are over €750 ($815) and if the person has an outstanding bill, or is expected to have one," Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told Bild newspaper.

That news outlet reports that police in Bavaria estimate the average amount per person confiscated by authorities was "in the four figures." Those who receive or plan to receive state aid must give up all income and wealth, which includes jewelry.

Danish lawmakers, meanwhile, see the new laws as a new reality in dealing with the large influx of people into the country.

"We are talking about a real exodus," said Martin Henriksen, immigration spokesman for the populist Danish People's Party. "More needs to be done: we need more border controls. We need tighter immigration rules."

Additional information from the Associated Press.