practice of habeas corpus proceedings under section 37 of the Aliens Act; provide for a maximum period of deprivation of liberty; he was informed of cases where persons had been detained for 18 months. pending deportation. A bill amending the Aliens Act was adopted in December 2008. The bill states that, unless there are particular reasons against it, the Danish authorities should instruct illegal immigrants who cannot be deported to take residence at asylum centre Sandholm and report to the local police at specific times.3 Government: By 5 November 2009, 45 aliens were detained in Ellebæk of which 18 were waiting to be returned or deported. In addition, by 5 November 2009, 31 aliens who had been expelled and who are awaiting an effectuation of the decision of expulsion were remanded in custody. Furthermore, by 5 November 2009, the National Commissioner of Police, Aliens Department, took over 27 cases of aliens who have been detained or remanded in custody in order to be deported from the local police districts. In a majority of these 58 cases, detention will therefore only be for a short period of time in order to carry out the expulsion. 3 Act no. 1397 of 27.12.2008 om ændring af udlændingeloven [Act amending the Aliens Act]; available in Danish at: https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=122943 (20.08.2009) 51 A/HRC/13/39/Add.6 The Directive 2008/115/EF of the European Parliament and of the Council on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals establishes rules concerning the maximum length of detention. According to article 15 (5), each member state shall set a limited period of detention, which may not exceed six